The Department of Communication – Undergraduate Programs has been chosen as a recipient for the 2019 Amy Rupiper Taggart Award for Excellence in Program Assessment.
The Assessment Award Committee chose the Department of Communication's Undergraduate Program cluster as the award recipient based on their persistence in implementing a holistic model for program-wide assessment, commitment to continued improvement in assessment techniques through internal and external validation, and the expert execution of the program-level curriculum mapping initiative. The Department of Communication has demonstrated a well-developed assessment model for their undergraduate programs that is sustainable and adaptable to other programs of study.
Their application particularly stood out to the Committee because of the faculty’s passionate involvement in developing well-versed and informed undergraduate students. Providing continuous evaluation and verification of student learning, thinking, and communication enables students to develop and practice critical thinking skills and become productive citizens of society.
Dr. Stephenson Beck, department chair, reflected on the award stating, "This is truly a wonderful award to receive, as it showcases our efforts to improve the connection between our teaching and student learning. Of course this is a never-ending process, but it is nice to receive confirmation, through this award, that we are moving in the right direction."
About the Award
The Amy Rupiper Taggart Award for Excellence in Program Assessment award honors the memory of Dr. Amy Rupiper Taggart. The award recognizes individuals or small teams for creative and thorough methods of gathering evidence to evaluate student learning. The award promotes sharing of outstanding assessment models with the NDSU community.
"It is wonderful to be associated with any award named after Dr. Amy Rupiper Taggart. She was not only strong in assessment practices but also a wonderful person and professor. It truly is an honor to receive an award named after her." said Dr. Beck.
About Dr. Amy Rupiper Taggart
Dr. Taggart joined the NDSU English Department in 2002. As Director of the First-Year Writing Program from 2008-12, she was deeply involved in improving and sustaining the program, one of NDSU’s premier assessment initiatives. Her focus was on the First-Year Writing Program and composition pedagogy research. Dr. Taggart’s leadership with the National Science Foundation-funded Gateways-ND teacher training project, General Education improvement at NDSU, and the Office of Teaching and Learning embodied her professional passion of improving the education of university students by working with students, faculty, and instructional staff. She was successful in improving student learning through actively engaged pedagogy and robust assessment. Her understanding, grace, and guidance contributed to making NDSU a wonderful, welcoming place to involve students in learning.
Learn more about the Amy Rupiper Taggart Award for Excellence in Program Assessment >>