1. Assessment Stories from the Field
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
Assessment Stories from the Field
May Mergenthaler
Associate Professor and Director
Graduate Studies, Germanic Languages

2. Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures

3. Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures

4. Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures
GLL has two small graduate programs in German and Yiddish with 21 grad students in
19 graduate students in German (2 exchange students; 1 studying abroad)
2 gradate students in Yiddish
3 graduate students will leave program after the M.A. exam
3 graduate students will leave after Ph.D. exam in SP and SU 2017
The Future of the Program: 9 admissions for AU 2017, 3 university fellowship nominations, 1 acceptance as of today
We have a good sense of how students are performing; annual meeting in which we discuss each students; students submit progress reports at the end of each year
We are in the process of (again) reforming our revised MA and PhD candidacy examinations after a trial period of 3 years

5. Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures
German Graduate Program Assessment Plan
Development: Look for a model on the OSU grad school website (I chose: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Identify learning goals for the MA and PhD programs
Identify assessment methods and Rubrics
Collect data (since AU 2017)
Evaluate data (SU 2017)

6. Identifying Learning Goals
Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures : German Graduate Program Assessment Plan
Identifying Learning Goals
Learning Goals: M.A. Program
M.A. graduates in German Studies will have a broad knowledge of German Studies’ subject areas (the MA reading list) and advanced knowledge in one area (the MA paper). 
M.A. graduates in German Studies will be able to develop and analyze research questions and apply their knowledge to investigate them.
 M.A. graduates in German Studies will be able to present ideas in their subject areas clearly, cogently and persuasively in speaking and in writing (in English or in German).
M.A. graduates in German Studies will be able to use the German language effectively on the intermediate/advanced level (B2/C1-level; TestDaF level four), in speaking, reading, listening, and writing.
M.A. graduates in German Studies will be able to teach introductory level German language and culture effectively.
M.A. graduates in German Studies will have effective professional skills, including oral and written communication, leadership, independence, and teamwork, all performed in an ethical manner.

7. Identifying Learning Goals
Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures : German Graduate Program Assessment Plan
Identifying Learning Goals
Learning Goals: Ph.D. Program
1. Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will have an extensive and thorough knowledge of one of the specialized areas of German Studies, and advanced knowledge in one or two secondary areas.
2. Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will be able to develop and analyze research questions and apply their knowledge to investigate them, thereby advancing knowledge through creative scholarship.
3. Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will be able to present their research in their subject areas clearly, cogently and persuasively in speaking and in writing (in English or in German).
4. Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will be able to use the German language effectively on the intermediate/advanced level (B2/C1-level; TestDaF level four), in speaking, reading, listening, and writing.
5. Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will be able to teach at all levels of the German Studies Curriculum effectively (introductory level German language & advanced language and culture classes).
6. Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will have effective professional skills including oral and written communication, leadership, independence, and teamwork, all performed in an ethical manner.

8. Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures : German Graduate Program Assessment Plan
Criteria
for Evaluating the MA and Ph.D. Programs´ Fulfillment of Learning Goals
Minimal acceptable criterion is 75% of students will obtain a rating of "meets expectations" or higher. When 95% of students earn a rating of "meets expectations," the performance standard constituting excellence for this learning outcome will be achieved.

9. Matching Learning Goals with Assessment Methods
Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures : German Graduate Program Assessment Plan
Matching Learning Goals with Assessment Methods
Learning Goals 1-3: M.A. Program
1. M.A. graduates in German Studies will have a broad knowledge of German Studies’ subject areas (the MA reading list) and advanced knowledge in one area (the MA paper). 
Assessment Method: MA Assessment with Rubric
2. M.A. graduates in German Studies will be able to develop and analyze research questions and apply their knowledge to investigate them.
3. M.A. graduates in German Studies will be able to present ideas in their subject areas clearly, cogently and persuasively in speaking and in writing (in English or in German).

10. Matching Learning Goals with Assessment Methods
Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures : German Graduate Program Assessment Plan
Matching Learning Goals with Assessment Methods
Learning Goals 4-6: M.A. Program
4. M.A. graduates in German Studies will be able to use the German language effectively on the intermediate/advanced level (B2/C1-level; TestDaF level four), in speaking, reading, listening, and writing.
Assessment Method: TestDaF examination (or equivalent)
5. M.A. graduates in German Studies will be able to teach introductory level German language and culture effectively.
Assessment Method: Supervisor Teaching Observations with Rubric
6. M.A. graduates in German Studies will have effective professional skills, including oral and written communication, leadership, independence, and teamwork, all performed in an ethical manner.
Assessment Method: Exit Survey for M.A. candidates

11. Matching Learning Goals with Assessment Methods
Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures : German Graduate Program Assessment Plan
Matching Learning Goals with Assessment Methods
Learning Goals 1-3: Ph.D. Program
Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will have an extensive and thorough knowledge of one of the specialized areas of German Studies, and advanced knowledge in one or two secondary areas.
Assessment Methods: a) Ph.D. Candidacy Examination with Assessment Rubric
b) Dissertation Defense with Assessment Rubric
2. Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will be able to develop and analyze research questions and apply their knowledge to investigate them, thereby advancing knowledge through creative scholarship.
3. Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will be able to present their research in their subject areas clearly, cogently and persuasively in speaking and in writing (in English or in German).

12. Matching Learning Goals with Assessment Methods
Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures : German Graduate Program Assessment Plan
Matching Learning Goals with Assessment Methods
Learning Goals 4-6: Ph.D. Program
4. Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will be able to use the German language effectively on the intermediate/advanced level (B2/C1-level; TestDaF level four), in speaking, reading, listening, and writing.
Assessment Method: TestDaF examination (or equivalent)
5. Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will be able to teach at all levels of the German Studies Curriculum effectively (introductory level German language & advanced language and culture classes).
Assessment Method: Supervisor Teaching Observations with Rubric
6. Ph.D. graduates in German Studies will have effective professional skills including oral and written communication, leadership, independence, and teamwork, all performed in an ethical manner.
Assessment Method: Exit Survey for M.A. candidates

13. Sample Assessment Rubric: Dissertation Defense
Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures : German Graduate Program Assessment Plan
Sample Assessment Rubric: Dissertation Defense
See Word Document.

14. Process of Getting Approval for Assessment Plan in the Department
Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures : German Graduate Program Assessment Plan
Process of Getting Approval for Assessment Plan in the Department
GAC meeting discusses drafts and submits comments
DC meeting discusses GAC draft and submits comments
Final Approval of assessment plan at DC meeting