Residency Surveys L. Distlehorst advised residency survey data had previously been identified as a potential source of data for program evaluation purposes. This residency has been administered to SIU graduates and their supervisors since 1975. Suggestion was made to add some questions or an explanatory paragraph about the curricular changes. Leave the survey as is so that the data can be analyzed without fear of confounding the results. External Evaluation L. Distlehorst reminded the members that the subject of obtaining an external evaluation has been discussed on several occasions.
Several questions remain with regard to an external evaluation.
The primary issue is whether to recommend an external evaluation. This would not replace internal program evaluation but rather, would provide an objectivity that might be lacking in internal evaluation. There was a feeling that obtaining a graduate student to conduct the evaluation would be unlikely. The department named an advisory council that involved local companies and representatives from some national research organizations to provide feedback on the functioning of the department, the applicability of the curriculum, etc. At the next meeting, we will discuss the last of the General Principles.