Purpose:
To determine if the program is meeting its goals from the Mission Statement.

Objectives:
    Students should:
1.  Demonstrate an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental issues.
2.  Understand the natural and social systems relevant to ENVS.
3.  Understand the complexity of environmental problems.
4.  Apply this understanding to real life experiences through internships, field experiences,
    and scholarly research.
5.  Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary for pursuing graduate level work or
    relevant careers in ENVS.

Processes and Activities:
    These include all courses and activities that are part of  the interdisciplinary nature of the major and
 the courses required or recommended. Also of primary importance are the internships, the field experiences,
and the opportunities for scholarly research. There are also important resources used as part of the process
for attaining the objectives.  These include our location, history, field courses and course trips, and internships.

Assessment Indicators/Methods and Criteria and Standards: (steps 5, 6, 7)
    Because of the interdisciplinary and field nature of the major, steps in the assessment process proceed
from assessments in individual courses which measure initial proficiencies, to assessments in some of the more
interdisciplinary courses to assessments of internships, and projects courses. Thus different types of experiences
are assessed separately and reflect different objectives.

    Methods of Assessment currently used to evaluate Environmental Studies students:
1.  Courses projects are required to demonstrate proficiencies. These include papers, production of
web modules, and research projects. Internships may also have individual projects required for their completion.

2.  Criteria and Standards are those used commonly by the various disciplines. Minimally, mastery is assumed
as the criterion, but for many exceptional students there may be developmental objectives and criteria
set far beyond those set as minimally essential.

3.  Assessments within courses, internships and projects are both formative and summative.

4.  Before or upon graduation a checklist of required courses, internships and activities is made for monitoring
    student progress towards and completion of the objectives for the major.  When applicable, grades are
    recorded, and any individual or additional work or projects is noted. Students are encouraged to compile a
    portfolio (perhaps electornic) of all of their work in ENVS. There is also a required exit interview with one
    of their assigned advisors for ENVS. Students are asked to review their work while at Illinois College, discuss their
    portfolios (where applicable), and to list strengths and weaknesses of the program and possible modifications.
    Those faculty conducting the interview will provide summaries.

Dissemination of Results
    Results are primarily for strengthening or validating the program. The main audience are faculty involved in the
program.   Students will also be brought in for review and discussion of the results. Formal reports
will also be created and disseminated as requested, primarily to accrediting bodies.

Calendar and Budget:
     The formative and informal assessments will be continual and based within courses and internships and projects.
Summative assessments will be per course or internship or project or field experience and will normally be
upon their individual completion. The final assessment while matriculating will be at the end of study and before
graduation. This is the interview, checklist review, and discussion of portfolio (where applicable) The survey of
alumni will occur periodically after graduation.