UStudies Improvement Program

USIP is a process through which faculty teaching in the UStudies program can initiate projects designed to improve student learning to achieve better success on the UStudies learning outcomes.  USIP can be viewed as a type of assessment process and is meant to serve the same purpose as traditional program assessment, though direct measurement of student learning may or may not be part of USIP projects.  The focus is on discovering ways to improve curriculum and instruction, and there is an openness to using many kinds of evidence and information to support changes.

Proposing a USIP Project

Projects should begin with a specific question or set of questions related to student learning that, when answered, will lead to changes in course design, curricular structure, instructional approaches, or assessments that are likely to improve learning.  Proposals can come from individual faculty or groups of faculty and can focus on single courses, particular Cluster requirements, or other aspects of the UStudies curriculum.  Please complete the project proposal form to initiate a project proposal.

The Director of General Education, in collaboration with the Gen Ed Committee, will review proposals and select proposals to support and implement.  Criteria for selection will include the feasibility of implementing successfully and the likely scope of impact on student learning.

For selected projects, the Director will work with the proposing faculty and the Gen Ed Committee to refine the project parameters and design an implementation plan and project timeline.  Funding may be available for some projects.  Implementation of the plan may be carried out by the faculty or the Gen Ed Director and Associate Director, depending on the circumstances.

If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please complete the UStudies Improvement Program Proposal form and email it to Matt Sneider, Director of General Education (msneider@umassd.edu).