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'Editorial': Assessment practices inconsistent, often inexplicable
By Staff Editorial
in OpinionIssue date: 5/7/09 Section: Opinion
Not only has OCC gone assessment crazy, but also its practices for the assessments are inconsistent in a variety of ways.
For a writing assessment that is part of "writing across the curriculum," a student is asked to surrender the rights granted to them under the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Students are asked to sign waivers so OCC can use their writing samples for an unclear purpose. What is clear is the administration's expectation of willing compliance on the part of students. Maybe this is why the statement regarding a students FERPA rights is so quickly glossed over.
What is even more disconcerting is at least one faculty member had never heard of FERPA
Ironically, if you are a student or a campus student medium trying to get directory information under the same legislation, often the answer is a resounding "no!" as the Viking News has found out more then once while attempting to investigate various matters.
On one hand OCC interprets very loosely the FERPA legislation asking students to sign away their rights under the law without an explanation as to what FERPA is or why they are demanding this action. Some professors also use the "switch papers with a partner method" of correcting tests, making students grades, which are listed as confidential information under FERPA, public knowledge. Still other professors call students grades out to the entire class.
OCC cannot have its in-terpretation and practice of FERPA regulations both ways.
In another assessment, without warning to even the professors, OCC forced a "general-education" measure-ment down students' throats. This assessment is not part of any grade. It is not to the students' advantage or disadvantage. It is just another meaningless test that takes away valuable lesson time from students and instructors. There is no way to know how this information is being compiled or how it is being used.
For still a third assessment, this one created by the various departments at the college, students in at least one department are given not only the questions, but also the answers ahead of time. This is undoubtedly done because the either the faculty member or the college, or both, need to look good to outside assessors such as accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Without the accreditation, any piece of paper from OCC is worthless.
For a writing assessment that is part of "writing across the curriculum," a student is asked to surrender the rights granted to them under the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Students are asked to sign waivers so OCC can use their writing samples for an unclear purpose. What is clear is the administration's expectation of willing compliance on the part of students. Maybe this is why the statement regarding a students FERPA rights is so quickly glossed over.
What is even more disconcerting is at least one faculty member had never heard of FERPA
Ironically, if you are a student or a campus student medium trying to get directory information under the same legislation, often the answer is a resounding "no!" as the Viking News has found out more then once while attempting to investigate various matters.
On one hand OCC interprets very loosely the FERPA legislation asking students to sign away their rights under the law without an explanation as to what FERPA is or why they are demanding this action. Some professors also use the "switch papers with a partner method" of correcting tests, making students grades, which are listed as confidential information under FERPA, public knowledge. Still other professors call students grades out to the entire class.
OCC cannot have its in-terpretation and practice of FERPA regulations both ways.
In another assessment, without warning to even the professors, OCC forced a "general-education" measure-ment down students' throats. This assessment is not part of any grade. It is not to the students' advantage or disadvantage. It is just another meaningless test that takes away valuable lesson time from students and instructors. There is no way to know how this information is being compiled or how it is being used.
For still a third assessment, this one created by the various departments at the college, students in at least one department are given not only the questions, but also the answers ahead of time. This is undoubtedly done because the either the faculty member or the college, or both, need to look good to outside assessors such as accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Without the accreditation, any piece of paper from OCC is worthless.
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West Orange movers
posted 7/22/10 @ 2:44 PM EST
You've definitely identified some weak points in OCC's policies. Hopefully the administrators will take notice of this article and start taking these things more seriously. (Continued…)
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