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Educational Measurement and Research
Although it was clear that the “Accent on Learning” emphasis at USF meant quality teaching and scholarship by faculty members, it was evident from the beginning of the College of Education that research was destined to play a prominent role in its future. Dr. Doug Stone a measurement and research specialist joined the College of Education in 1964 and in 1965 was appointed Coordinator of Research for the College of Education by Dean Jean Battle. Dr. Stone continued in that role as Coordinator of Research in the college in the newly formed Division of Foundations and Related Areas, directed by Dr. Les Tuttle from 1966 to 1969.
In 1969 Dr. Doug Stone served as Coordinator of the Measurement and Research unit. Faculty members in the unit over the next several years included Dr. Bruce Hall, Dr. John Noel, Dr. F. Raburn, Dr. Tom Tucco, Dr. Annie Ward, Dr. Richard Jaeger and Dr. Tom Frejo. Later joining the faculty were Dr. Cliff Blair, Dr. Connie Hines, Dr. Lou Carey and Dr. Jeff Kromery.
Center for Instructional Development, Evaluation and Assessment
The Center for Instructional Development Evaluation and Assessment (IDEA) which was started in 1973 by Dean Roger Wilk was designed to provide a portion of a faculty members time each semester to work in the center with Dr. Tom Frejo and Dr. Annie Ward of the Measurement and Research Program in the College of Education. After financial support from the College slowed, the Center received contracts and grants for evaluations projects for school systems in the USF fifteen county service area. The center performed these important services for school districts until 1978 when Dr. Frejo left the College of Education.
Doctoral Program in Elementary Education: Research in Urban Education
In 1971 Acting Dean of the College of Education Dr. Lance Hunnicutt initiated a plan to develop a doctoral program in the college. Knowing that the University of Florida and Florida State University had veto power over new doctoral programs he selected the largest and he felt strongest department in the college at the time Elementary Education.
In order to make the doctoral more acceptable to the Board of Regents and more difficult to veto he made it a Doctorate of Elementary Education: Research in Urban Education. USF was the only university in the state located in an urban area and this kept the other universities from being able to say we already have that program. Housing the doctoral program in the Measurement and Research area further emphasized the “Research” aspect of the degree. Dr. Joe Mazur joined the faculty in 1970 as Coordinator of Doctoral Programs and led the final preparation of the doctoral proposal and guided it through the approval process. The colleges’ first doctoral program was approved in 1973 and began with five full time students in the Measurement and Research Program. It was not long, the late 1970’s, before the College of Education changed the name of the successful doctoral program to a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction: Measurement and Evaluation in Education. This title provided for an umbrella under which doctoral degrees could be offered by other programs in the college. Doctoral Programs in Educational Leadership, Secondary Education and Adult and Vocational Education soon followed.
Contributions of Measurement and Research Department
In addition to having its’ own doctoral program the department taught Measurement in Education courses required of all students in all undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education. In addition at least one faculty member from the Educational Measurement and Research Department was required to serve as a member of thesis and dissertation committees of graduate students in the college of Education. Their expertise in statistical analysis was needed to guide graduate students in conducting their research. It was expected that faculty members from the Measurement and Research Department would serve on numerous dissertation committees of students from all departments of the college with a doctoral program. Although records were not kept of these above and beyond contributions, but estimates by long time faculty in the department place membership on these graduate committees at any given time conservatively at fifty.
CREAM and CORE
Within the Measurement and Research Department are two very important centers. The first is the Center for Research and Educational Assessment and Measurement (CREAM) and the second is the Consulting Office for Research in Education (CORE).
CREAM is a non-profit organization that contracts to provide research and evaluation services to college university and community partners. The center recognized by the state university system in the summer of 2003, is staffed by a Director, advanced graduate students and Measurement and Research Department faculty. Projects range from short term analysis and evaluation endeavors (3-6 months) to long term projects (1-5 years) including evaluation grants from various sources. Funding sources include the National Science Foundation and the Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education. Clients have included other departments in the College of Education, colleges and departments across the university, school districts and community partners such as the American Cancer Society. The services of the center include evaluation and research planning, instrument design, data collection, data analysis, and report writing. The current, 2007 director of the center is Dr. Melinda Hess.
The Consulting Office for Research (CORE) provides free service to College of Education faculty and doctoral students in planning research and in the analysis of data and in the interpretation and presentation of the results of both quantitative and qualitative research.
Chairs and Current Faculty
The first chair of the newly named Department of Measurement and Research in 1976 was Dr. Bruce Hall. He served as chair until 1982 and was followed by Dr. Joe Mazur who was chair until 1990. Dr. Hall returned as chair in 1990 and remained chair until his retirement in 2002. Dr. Lou Carey was chair from 2002 until 2004 and was followed by Dr. Jeff Kromery.
Faculty members in the Educational Measurement and Research Department 2006 include Chair, Dr. Jeff Kromery, Dr. Robert Dedrick, Dr. John Ferron, Dr. Connie Hines, Dr. Anthony Onwuegbuzie, Dr. Rosemarie Ataya, Dr. Lou Carey, Professor Emeritus and Dr. Bruce Hall, Professor Emeritus.
Among the many awards and honors achieved by the faculty of the Educational Measurement and Research Department is the USF President’s Award for Excellence, four Outstanding Teaching Awards, and a Professional Excellence Award. In addition faculty have published over 200 articles in refereed national and international journals, six faculty have received and award for the Florida Educational Research Association Research Paper of the Year and three faculty have served as president of the Florida Educational Research Association