Course Assessment - 2016

Clifton Franklund

The Excellence in Course Assessment Award is given each year to one team and one individual who demonstrates excellence in the use of assessment data in a course to improve student learning. Clifton Franklund, Professor of Biology, has been chosen as the recipient of the 2016 Excellence in Course Assessment Individual Award.

Franklund is the coordinator for general education at Ferris and teaches a microbiology course during the academic year. The assessment individual award is being given to Franklund for his work in Biology 286 General Microbiology. 

Roberta Teahen writes for the Excellence in Course Assessment Committee, "With 8 course-level outcomes and 11 assessment methods, a total of 39 results have been entered over a multi-year period that illustrate the levels of proficiency of students in the aggregate for this course." She continues, "Dr. Franklund utilized extensive analyses on all outcomes, providing helpful feedback to students, and seeking improved methods for both assessment and teaching. The Assessment Committee concluded that this course-level assessment was impressive and far beyond the level expected in basic assessment at Ferris." An example of Franklund's work will be posted on the Academic Affairs Assessment website. 

In 2012, Franklund was named Ferris' Distinguished Teacher Award recipient for his exceptional teaching ability and effectiveness in engaging students in the classroom. In 2013, Franklund was named to the list of the Top 25 STEM Professors in Michigan for outstanding work as reported by StateStats.org and OnlineSchoolsMichigan.com. He also received the University's 2007 Exemplary Online Course Award (web enhanced). 

Franklund earned a doctoral degree in microbiology and immunology from the Medical College of Virginia, a master's degree in bacteriology from North Dakota State University, and a bachelor's degree in biology from Concordia College.