Minnesota Collaborative Project

The Minnesota Collaborative (MCP) project, an extension of AAC&U VALU Rubric project, is a national grant-funded project aimed at validating the reliability of assessment strategies using AAC&U rubrics via a variety of assignments across a number of different disciplines.

The MCP is a three-year project.  During Year Two (2015-2016 academic year) of the project, our campus collected student work in three outcome areas for national scoring using the VALUE rubrics.  Year Two collection was as follows: 

• Written communication: 12 faculty participants, 99 assignments submitted
• Critical thinking: 11 faculty participants, 100 assignments submitted
• Civic engagement: 4 faculty participants, 40 assignments submitted

During Year Three (2016-2017 academic year) of the project, we will be collecting student work in four outcome areas:  quantitative literacy, intercultural knowledge and competence, ethical reasoning, and civic engagement. 

Important Dates

Year Three (2016-2017) of the project is currently ongoing.

• September –December 2016: Collect student artifacts for fall semester
• January – May 2017: Collect student artifacts for fall semester
• June 1 – July 29, 2017: National scoring of year three artifacts

Year two (2015-2016) of the project has been completed.

• December 16, 2015: Faculty submitals to attend National Scorer Calibration Meeting due
• January - May 2016: Collect student artifacts
• March 31 - April 2, 2016: National Scorer Calibration Meeting
• May 1, 2016: All student artifacts are due
• June 1 - July 29, 2016: Scoring for year two artifacts

Additional Resources

• Year 2 PowerPoint Presentation An overview of what will happen during Year 2
• SHEEO.org State Higher Education Executive Officers Association - MSC: A Multi-State Collaborative to Advance Learning Outcomes Assessment
• VALUE Rubrics A list of VALUE rubrics, organized by learning outcomes
• AAC&U Homepage of Association of American Colleges & Universities's
• SMSU IRB Page of the Institutional Review Board, who is charged with reviewing all university research activities
• SMSU AHA Assessment plan structure for SMSU's Liberal Education Program
• SMSU LEP Rubrics Core skills rubrics approved by faculty assembly

Contact Information

Cindy Aamlid, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology
Department of Social Science
SS 113
Southwest Minnesota State University
1501 State Street * Marshall, MN 56258
Phone: (507) 537-7284
Email: cindy.aamlid@smsu.edu