Education Commons^™

Assessing Writing At Western Washington University, Carmen Werder, Donna J. Qualley, Gary (Gary Russell) Mckinney

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

A 'White Paper' exploring possible options for the future of writing assessment and the design of a writing program at Western, with an empahsis on embedding writing across the curriculum.

Profile Of The 1997 Freshman Class At Western: Comparative Trends And Patterns With A National Sample, Gary (Gary Russell) Mckinney, Joseph E. Trimble

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Presentation of selected findings from Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) survey of first-time, in-coming freshmen. The CIRP is administered nationally by the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI). In the report, some national/local comparisons.

Ten Years Of Fall-To-Fall Retention, Western Washington University, Carl Simpson

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Executive Summary: Analysis of Fall-to-Fall retention at Western over the period 1987-1997 reveals modest improvement in retention rates, some traditional patterns, and some surprises. Particular groups are identified by the analysis as highest priority for university attention aimed at increasing retention. Western's overall Fall-to-Fall retention rate increased steadily from 1987 through 1992, then leveled off, to remain stable or decline very slightly since then. In particular, the retention of entering freshmen rose markedly from '87 through '92 and has declined significantly since 1992, although remaining well above its earlier rate. While the early rise in retention may be attributed to …

Media Blitz: Children And The Effects Of Television Advertising, Erica (Erica Naomi) Friedman

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Watching television is nearly a universal phenomenon for the youth of modem America and other first-world countries. With the viewing of television comes the blitz of commercial advertising. Each year, children are exposed to approximately 20,000 commercial messages, or three hours a week of television advertising (Adler, Lesser, Meringoff, Robertson, Rossiter, and Ward, 1980).

Society has two broad types of responsibility toward its youth. First are the precautions set in place to shield children from predatory exploitation by adults. For instance, child labor laws were enacted to prevent abuses of children in the work place. Second, society has recognized its …

Western Washington University Library Survey Series, Fall 1996-97: Faculty And Staff And Administration, Carl Simpson, Linda D. (Linda Darlene) Clark, Gary (Gary Russell) Mckinney

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

INTRODUCTION Section One: Faculty At the request of the new University Librarian, Western's Office of Survey Research (OSR) and Office of Institutional Assessment and Testing (OiART) worked with the library's faculty and staff to conduct a series of surveys focusing on library resources and services. Drafts of this report were reviewed by library personnel and their comments and insights were extremely valuable. These surveys were intended to provide a base of information to help guide an in-depth assessment and planning effort aimed at improving Western's library. Indeed, "Western Washington University Libraries: Organizational Directions and Major Strategies: I998- 2003" was published …

Western Washington University Library Survey Series, Fall 1996-97: Returning And Entering Students, Carl Simpson, Linda D. (Linda Darlene) Clark, Gary (Gary Russell) Mckinney

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Section One: Returning Students INTRODUCTION At the request of the new University Librarian, Western's Office of Survey Research (OSR) and Office of Institutional Assessment and Testing (OIART) worked with the library's faculty and staff to conduct a series of surveys focusing on library resources and services. Drafts of this report were reviewed by library personnel and their comments and insights were extremely valuable. These surveys were intended to provide a base of information to help guide an in-depth assessment and planning effort aimed at improving Western's library. Indeed, "Western Washington University Libraries: Organizational Directions and Major Strategies: 1998- 2003" was …

Wwu Library Study, Fall, 1996: Faculty & Returning Students, An Executive Summary, Linda D. (Linda Darlene) Clark, Gary (Gary Russell) Mckinney, Carl Simpson

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

A survey of Western libraries intended to provide a base of information to help guide an in-depth assessment and planning effort aimed at improving Western's library system.

1997-98 (3 Quarters & Aya) Sch & Fte Faculty Reports, Ernest Sams

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Student Credit Hours; GUR Courses; Sections; FTE Faculty Allocated and Used; Compare with 1 year ago; Measures per FTE Faculty.

Peer Theater: Social Issues In Action, Shannon Simer

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Peer education is an effective way to make lasting impressions on both the performers and the audience. When dealing with social issues this is especially true. The performers must have explored their feelings and experiences to a degree of depth that allows them to have enough perspective to portray it to others who may not have thought about the subject in such detail and depth. The audience often relates more easily to their peers than to a grown up telling them how to behave. Many teachers will attest to how much influence children have on each other. This program combats …

Symphonic Band Conducting Practicum, Allison Schmidtke

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Most music education majors take a year-long sequence of conducting classes in their junior year, about two years before we student teach. Unfortunately, of necessity, these conducting classes are rather contrived. Over the period of each quarter, we conducted our ensemble of cooperative, musically mature peers through about five eight- measure exercises focusing on a specific skill. Of course, since actual technique is only one (small) aspect of work on a podium, we were also introduced to the process of score study with its multitude of layers such as consideration of harmonic structure, stylistic elements, orchestration, context (historical influences, information …

First Year Experience Technical Report, Carl Simpson, Linda D. (Linda Darlene) Clark

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Executive Summary: This report was prepared as background to ongoing discussions concerning the first year experience, in particular the study group by that name headed by Dean Marie Eaton. Data come from surveys of a cohort of new freshmen and new transfers, who entered Western in Fall, 1994. They were surveyed that Fall and in the Spring of that same academic year. Only about one-third of new students, many of whom failed to attend Summer advising sessions, find the transition to Western "very" or "moderately" difficult. The great majority expected Western to be more difficult than their previous schools. Most …

Seniors Assess Their Experience At Western Washington University: A Sequential Comparative Analysis, Gary (Gary Russell) Mckinney, Joseph E. Trimble

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Local and national CSS survey results are presented. Student characteristics, attitudes, values, educational achievement, and goals.

General University Requirements: Technical Report, Carl Simpson, Gary (Gary Russell) Mckinney, Linda D. (Linda Darlene) Clark

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Executive Summary: To provide some background for ongoing conversations concerning Western's GURs, relevant findings were collated from ten different surveys conducted on Western students and alumni over the past ten years. There was no central thesis and is therefore no central finding to summarize. However, some highlights from particular findings can be offered. •Most students are supportive of the idea that Western should offer a strong core of liberal arts instruction rather than primarily technical skills, although in practice GURs are not treated as seriously or valued as highly as courses in the major. • Students' satisfaction with their GUR …

Departmental Advising Patterns And Recommendations For Change, Linda D. (Linda Darlene) Clark, Carl Simpson

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Executive Summary: Departmental/college advising is coming to occupy one of the several spotlights directed by feedback from students and by higher education accountability. For several years, alumni have been particularly critical of departmental advising. This year, advising has been put forward as one accountability measure and as one means to enhance performance on several others. To contextualize discussions of departmental advising and to provide a first round of input from departments, the chairs or advisors of thirty departments/colleges described their advising practices and gave their input regarding future directions for advising, during Fall, 1997. Departments' advising practices are tremendously varied. …