Kent State University
Assessment of Student Academic Achievement Plan
Sample Academic Department Plan
School of Fashion Design and Merchandising

These assessments are used principally to determine the effectiveness of the professional programs of the School. In the case of Senior Seminar, a Writing Intensive Course, students' general writing ability is also critiqued in addition to assessing professional skills attainment. Other more specific uses are:

1) Alumni Survey (1 time Fall '93 or Spring '94) -- to determine effectiveness of curriculum; quality of teaching; quality of preparation for professional entry; general satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with program.

2) Student Opinion Survey (1 time 1992) -- Same as Alumni except for entry preparation and more detailed questions concerning satisfaction with quality of instruction, academic and career advising, curriculum content and student life.

3) Sophomore Design Review (each year) -- to determine competency in basic skills prior to enrollment in Junior level courses.

4) Junior Portfolio Review (each year) -- is used to determine achievement in the creative areas of fashion design.

5) Senior Portfolio Review (each year) -- is used to assess student achievement in creative/design processes.

6) Faculty Design Critique (each semester) -- same as above. These critiques are used as check points throughout the academic year to assess student progress in development of junior or senior collections.

7) Senior Student Fashion Show (each Spring semester) -- all Seniors participate; used as a capstone experience, assesses skills of both design and merchandising students.

8) Senior Seminar (capstone course, each semester) -- See note above; used to assess writing skills.

9) Student Design Competition (6 to 10/year/varies) -- skills assessed by external professional organizations in juried shows; all students of the School encouraged to participate; local, regional, national and international sponsors.