Standard 3 (1). The unit must implement an assessment system with a process for annually collecting and reviewing data from surveys, including those from:

(a) initial licensure program completers at the time of program completion;
(b) initial licensure program completers one year after completion; and
(c) initial licensure program completers' supervisors one year after completion;

The UED conducts annual surveys of admitted and enrolled students, graduating students, alumni as beginning teachers and as well as their supervisors. In 2017 the unit adopted the mandated Network for Excellence in Teaching (NExT) Common Metrics survey tools, namely: (1) Exit Survey, (2) Transition to Teaching Survey, and (3) Survey of Supervisor of first-year teachers employer. These survey instruments have been collaboratively developed by NExT member institutions to measure their progress towards preparing effective teachers aligned with the Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice.  

Candidate, graduate and employer survey data are regularly collected at the unit level. Graduates are surveyed the semester they are scheduled to graduate. At the end of each semester, teacher candidates who have completed student teaching complete the exit survey. The web-based survey inquires about their current vocational situation, feelings of preparedness attributable to training at UED, and professional attitudes. Additionally, the UED conducts a survey of teacher education graduates one year after graduation and into employment to assess the quality of the teacher preparation program. The Transition to Teaching Survey examines UED teacher candidate’s first year experiences after college, looking at their employment status, the steps they took to obtain teaching positions, the extent to which they feel prepared for teaching positions, and the extent to which they feel the program prepared them for the teaching responsibilities. Lastly, during the summer, administrators/supervisors are surveyed to provide feedback on graduates employed in their schools. This survey is sent to school principals based on the data we have obtained on where our completers are teaching. The survey asks supervisors how well prepared UED completers regarding instructional practices, abilities to work with diverse learners, abilities to establish a positive classroom environment, and levels of professionalism after year one of their professional career. We do have some trend data that shows a high level of consistency in the scores obtained.

The surveys are administered in two different platforms; TaskStream for the Exit survey and SurveyMonkey or Qualtrics for the Transition to Teaching Survey and Supervisor survey. During the time to administer the Graduate and employer surveys, a survey link is generated and emailed to recent graduates and their employers/supervisors in the summer of every year. UED program completers take the exit survey at the end of each semester. For the past three surveys, the average response rate was 45 percent and 36 percent for beginning teachers and supervisors respectively while that of the exit survey stands at 76 percent. To increase the exit survey response rate, we made the exit survey a mandatory requirement for program completers to submit as their last reflection during their student teaching (see Figure 3.4). 

Survey data is analyzed on an annual basis first by the Assessment Coordinator and the UED Assessment Committee. It is then shared and reviewed with the faculty through licensure program coordinators. Finally, it is shared and reviewed with stakeholders for accountability purposes and input on ways to improve survey results.

Figure 3.4 Completer Survey set-up in Taskstream