Information Services Assessment Council Meeting Minutes

November 28, 2006

Present: Sherry Umscheid, John Stratton, Thelma Simons, Jim Tumlinson, Jill Glaser, Holly Mercer, Mandy Swygart-Hobaugh, Ryan Papesh, Bill Myers (chair), Darrell McNamara.

Thelma Simons reported that an email was sent from Vice Provost Denise Stephens to the deans, directors, and chairs about the IS presentations (see 11/14 minutes for context). She plans to send follow-up letters to chairs and have articles in Info Matters and the Oread. Her goal is to reach 50% of the campus constituents by May. She will be giving the presentation at the January Libraries all-staff meeting as well.

Ryan Papesh reported that Chuck LaPointe was seeking advice on an assessment of ResNet services. This need was generated in response to anecdotal evidence that students are experiencing slow response time when downloading files; ResNet wishes to assess some possible solutions to this issue. A subcommittee of Papesh, Tumlinson, and Swygart-Hobaugh will meet with Chuck LaPointe to discuss the overall objective of such an assessment and how to proceed.

Bill Myers announced that a meeting on December 4th in Anschutz 305 from 9-10am has been scheduled to discuss available survey tools for IS uses.

Myers reported that he and Glaser had participated in a focused conversation with faculty and advising staff about online advising tools. A working group is being developed to explore whether using existing tools, developing one on campus, or a combination would meet the online advising needs.

ISAC members identified the following as specific training they would like to receive: facilitation of focus-group discussions, usability testing, and data analysis. Myers will contact Carrie Towns of Institutional Research & Planning to schedule an overview of data analysis.

Myers asked that the ISAC members send a list of regular meeting in their areas that could be utilized for the ISAC to give short assessment presentations.

For the next meeting: (1) Myers will circulate to memberrs the types of data that IS units currently collect to guide a discussion of how this data might be used more effectively in assessing IS services; (2) we will discuss what content might be covered in the four IS meetings available in the spring.