Weber State University   

Geography

Results of Assessment

2000-2001 (submitted 02/02)

1. The Geography Department put into effect last school year (2000 - 2001) an outcomes assessment procedure that will identify areas of strength and weakness in our program. We instituted several procedures for self-evaluation, including exit interviews with graduating seniors, questionnaires sent out to recent graduates, and a multiple choice test given both to entering freshmen in an introductory geography class and to the students in our senior seminar.

2. The results of the test were somewhat inconclusive. The freshmen scored quite low. The seniors scored 35 percent higher. A standard T-Test showed the difference to be significant at beyond .0001. The questions on the exam were taken from several different introductory general education geography classes. The test was studied in the Fall of 2001 by the newly constituted department faculty (including its two new members). It was felt that many of the questions, particularly the ones most often missed, were esoteric and were more representative of the interests of the two older faculty. For example, the six questions missed by the largest number of students involved knowledge of languages, religions, earth-sun relationships, and regional taxonomy. A decision was made to rewrite the exam to reflect a broader range of knowledge and to include more analytical questions. This exam will be given to students in this year’s senior seminar, and based on its results recommendations for curriculum modification will be made.

3. Exit interviews from students completing their geography degrees revealed a number of student reactions. First, all students felt their education at WSU and in the department was significant, of high quality, and prepared them well for the job market. Many of them already had jobs lined up and several had already been accepted to graduate school. The students felt the department’s main strength included their professors (knowledgeable, accessible, helpful, and involved with students); diverse learning opportunities with a wide variety of courses (both in and outside of the department); the internships; the field trips; and a number of classes that were individual favorites). Areas where the students would like to see improvements included what many regarded as poor GIS instruction (not enough GIS capability within the department, forcing student to go outside of the department into classes with an instructor whom many felt was not suitable); the lack of enough electronic equipment in the department (televisions, videos, power point, etc); certain geography classes that were taught poorly (by instructors no longer in the department); and certain classes students would like to see added to the geography curriculum (GIS, more cartography, a remote sensing class, a resources class, a few classes that should be required for the planning emphasis); and small or uncomfortable rooms.

4. About one quarter of the questionnaires mailed out to recent graduates were returned. These revealed an overall satisfaction with the geography program and with the planning emphasis. They felt the planning experience they gained in the department and in various internships prepared them well for the job market. All of them appreciated the individual attention given them by the faculty. Several graduates felt the program had to improve its GIS and cartography offerings, and several expressed the need for specific courses to be added to the geography curriculum (specifically one that is now taught in another department).

5. Some of these student concerns have already been remedied (one instructor has left, new electronic equipment is being purchased, and the department has initiated its own two-course GIS and cartography program to serve our own students). Others (room assignments, more resources, certain new courses, and more field opportunities) are not possible at present because of budget limitations. One recent development that will help address some of the students’ concerns for more courses will be addressed next Fall with the addition of a new faculty member.

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