Dakota State University’s
NCA Update

Volume 2, Issue 4 Feruary 2000

NCA Organizing Committee
Mark Lee, Linda Brozik, Nancy Moose, Carrie Ahern,
Lynette Molstad, Evan Gough, Ethelle Bean, Cecelia Wittmayer

Text Box:  Find the Hidden Goofy Sentences! Win prizes!!

All DSU faculty, staff and students*  are eligible to participate in the fourth NCA contest. 
This contest will focus on Chapter
4, which requires DSU to prove that the institution can continue to accomplish its purposes and strengthen its educational effectiveness.  
This Chapter demonstrates that members of the University have worked together effectively to plan for the future.   Faculty, staff and student government groups, task forces, and numerous campus committees have participated in planning efforts over the years.  One outcome of these efforts was the development of DSU’s Strategic Plan which includes the strategic vision and seven areas of emphasis.  Chapter 4 contains more information on DSU’s planning efforts related to the strategic plan.  A draft of this Chapter is available on the Internet.  Patterns of evidence that are addressed in this chapter include:

·          A current resource base—financial, physical, and human that positions the institution for the future
·          Decision-making processes with tested capability of responding effectively to anticipated and unanticipated challenges to the institution;
·         
Structured assessment processes that are continuous, that involve a variety of institutional constituencies, and  that provide meaningful and useful information to the planning processes, as well as to students, faculty, and administration;
·         
Plans as well as ongoing, effective planning processes necessary to the institution’s continuance;
·         
Resources organized and allocated to support its plans for strengthening both the institution and its programs.

To enter the contest, you will need to find the five completely odd, out of context and goofy sentences hidden in the chapter.   To win simply send the 5 sentences and where you found them in Chapter 4 to ahernc@dsu03.dsu.edu or by snail mail to the Assessment Office, 2nd Floor, Heston Hall.  Additional information on the NCA self-study 
report and DSU’s strategic plan can be found on the NCA website http://www.departments.dsu.edu/nca.  

 

The first three people who submit the correct answers and locations will each win a $10.00 bookstore certificate.

 *NCA Committee members cannot participate.

What Happens with the Campus Quality Surveys? 

Thanks to all of you who completed the survey!  We had an overall response rate of 79%.  The surveys have been sent to the Performance Horizons Consulting Group for processing. We should have the results in approximately 3-4 weeks.  The information will be shared with the entire campus via newsletters, power point presentations, and a formal summary report.  The written comments will be given directly to Dr. Tunheim.  


Congratulations to NCA Contest Winners! 

Chuck Lohstandt won the $25.00 bookstore certificate for his essay on professional development.  Kerry Terwilliger,  a sophomore majoring in business, won the marketplace coupon for her ideas on student activities.  Congratulations to Chuck and Kerry!  Thanks to all of you who entered the contest!  Your comments have been forwarded to the appropriate departments for action.


 Assessment Update

For the past several years, all incoming degree-seeking students have been placed into courses based on their ACT scores and/or placement tests.  Beginning this spring, a statewide placement policy was developed which placed incoming students into courses based solely on their ACT scores.  Students who did not have Enhanced ACT scores completed a computerized placement test.  The following graph shows DSU’s average ACT scores compared to the national norms.


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Any Questions? Carrie Ahern or Nancy G. Moose

Last Updated 10/15/00 by Nancy G. Moose