- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
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- Chemistry M.S. Assessment Plan
Chemistry M.S. Assessment Plan
1. Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
SLOs establish quantifiable performance targets for the M.S. Thesis/Educator Licensure candidate and provide a framework for graduate curriculum revision and program improvement. View the complete list.
2. Assessment Timelines
Assessments are applied throughout the student's degree timeline to collect data aligned with the M.S. SLOs. The timeline documents linked below use a graphical format to show when the M.S. assessments are applied. They also provide comprehensive information, semester‐by‐semester, on all other graduate program expectations, including deadlines and links to departmental and Graduate School forms.
Timeline prior to defending semester/term
Timeline for defending semester/term
3. Assessment Tools
Assessment tools consist mostly of rubrics and surveys designed to collect performance data aligned with the M.S. SLOs (section 1). Rubrics/surveys are checkbox‐based to enable ease‐of‐use for faculty while providing clear performance expectations for the student. The assessment tools are applied according to the timelines in section 2. Whenever possible, students should provide faculty with the assessment tools linked below and ask that they complete them. Faculty should discuss outcomes with the student, but should turn in any rubrics they complete to the DGS or Ryan Damhoff for processing and archiving. Person(s) responsible for applying the rubric/survey tools are listed under each SLO. The DGS or Ryan Damhoff will convert all submitted rubric/survey data to proficiency ratings (PRs), which students then enter into their Individual Development Plans (section 4). PR values of 3.00 or better are generally required to meet SLO targets. These values are also used to construct aggregate internal and external reports. Students may see the DGS or Ryan Damhoff to obtain their PR values or other data (such as ACS background scores).
- SLO Tools
- SLO 1A | ACS Standardized Exam Rubric. 50th percentile composite norm expectation.
Applied by faculty. - SLO 1C | Oral Comprehensive Exam Rubric
Applied by members of the Thesis/Project defense committee. - SLO 1B | Written Thesis/Portfolio Rubric
Applied by the research advisor(s) to first draft of the thesis/project or its sections, especially the introduction. - SLO 1C | Oral Defense of Research Rubric
Applied by members of the Thesis/Project defense committee. - SLO 3A | CHEM 615 (Literature/Research Talk) Rubric
Applied by seminar coordinator and, optionally, other faculty attending the presentation. - SLO 2A | TA Lab Safety Rubric, RA Lab Safety Rubric
Applied by members of the Laboratory Safety Team (Andy Small, Michele Crase, Jim Gable). - SLO 2B | TA Teaching Rubrics
Applied by undergraduates assigned to the TA.
- SLO 1A | ACS Standardized Exam Rubric. 50th percentile composite norm expectation.
- Non‐SLO Tools
- General Education Rubrics
(Developed at the University of South Carolina) - CHEM 615 Semester 1 Project
- Third Semester Research Review
(Notes and Guidelines)
- General Education Rubrics
4. Individual Development Plan (IDP)
IDPs are recommended by the ACS Presidential Commission Report, Advancing Graduate Education in the Chemical Sciences (p.13, item 1.6). Our department's M.S. IDP has been designed as an electronic portfolio for tracking assessment progress and showcasing academic and professional progress. M.S. students (Thesis and Educator Licensure on TA support) update their IDPs regularly as they obtain new data aligned with the M.S. SLOs, engage in or achieve something new (such as workshop training, presenting a poster, receiving an award or honor). Beginning semester 2, students schedule Advisory Committee meetings, per departmental policy, to discuss their IDP data with faculty, especially in areas where intervention/support are needed. More generally, the primary objectives of these meetings and the IDP are to:
- Increase interaction between students and faculty.
- Discuss diverse M.S. career options and assist students in building mentoring networks/expanding skills.
- Provide timely conflict resolution, if needed.
- Establish a robust and consistent framework for evaluating and tracking academic/research progress and professional engagement across the program.
The M.S. IDPs are shared on the student's NIU OneDrive with the DGS and members of the Advisory Committee.
- M.S. IDP Template file
(Requires login ID to access and Microsoft Word to edit) - Instructions: Using the NIU OneDrive to update and share your IDP
Laboratory Safety
- Please visit the department Safety page for Safety Resources and the Lab Safety Meeting Schedule.
Other Documents
Graduate Advising
James R. Horn
La Tourette Hall 432
jrhorn@niu.edu