Assessment is the systematic collection, review, and use of information about educational programs undertaken for the purpose of improving student learning and development.

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• "Assessment is the systematic collection, review,
  and use of information about educational programs
  undertaken for the purpose of improving student
  learning and development."
• from Assessment Essentials
• by Palomba and Banta 1999

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Outline of Presentation

• Background
• Definitions
• Rationale
• Types of Assessment
• University Steering Committee
• University Assessment Plan
• Overview
• Assessment Activities current and future

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Assessment vs. Evaluation

• Assessment
• Use of information for the purposes of
  improvement
• Evaluation
• Use of information for the purposes of arriving
  at a decision, such as determining a course grade

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Program Development Implementation
Program Development and Revision/No Change
Teaching, Learning, Service
ProgramImplementation
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Assessment Loop forContinuous Improvement
Program Development and Revision/No Change
ProgramImplementation
Assessment
Teaching,Learning,Service
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Who/What Can be Assessed?

• Individualized
• Student
• Aggregated
• Specific Activity or Course
• Curriculum or Program
• Institution

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Demographic and Summative Assessment Data

• Demographic
• Academic Progression and Performance
• Retention, GPA, Deans List, etc.
• Writing Proficiency, etc.
• Course Evaluations
• Surveys Graduating Senior, Alumni
• Major Field/Licensing Examinations

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of Alumni Indicating High Effectiveness in
Preparation
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Formative Assessment Data

• How do students form or develop abilities?
• General Abilities
• Communication, Thinking, Ethics and Morals,
  Social Responsibility/Context/Interaction, Self-
  Learning
• Discipline-Specific Abilities

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Development of Assessment Activities

• Determine what to assess and how to assess it
• Collect, Store and Analyze data
• Communicate/Disseminate and Discuss data
• Utilize data
• Assess the assessment process

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Assessment Steering Committee

• Formed in 1998
• Created by Drs. B. Byrne and M. Weis
• Reports to Dr. B. Byrne
• Charged to create and implement an
  institution-wide assessment plan.
• Website www.usip.edu/assessment

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Assessment Steering Committee 2000/2001

• Co-Chairs D. Appelbaum, E. Boyce
• Faculty, Administrators, StaffP. Blumberg A.
  BreauxL. Davis A. IglarshL. Lawson K.
  LeibowitzK. Palin L. PeckS. Trump
• Alumnus D. Marasco
• Students F. Alnoah, E. Faddin

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Assessment Plan Goals

• The goals of the Assessment Program are to
  improve and/or enhance
• student learning and student life at the
  University
• the abilities and satisfaction of students,
  faculty and staff and
• the design and delivery of academic programs and
  student services.

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Assessment Plan Themes

• Prospective
• organized, planned, coordinated
• Comprehensive and Collaborative
• institution-wide
• academic student service departments and
  programs
• communication
• Efficient
• use currently available methods and data
• use one set of data for multiple purposes

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Assessment Plan Themes

• Meaningful
• assess only important issues
• collect data that will be used
• Centralized and Decentralized
• centralized - institution-wide
• decentralized - individual programs/departments
• Facilitate Change
• Start slow and continue to build
• Start with methods already in place

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Assessment Plan Implementation

• Phase I Development (1-3 yrs)
• Plan development
• Survey of current activities
• Phase II Initial Implementation (1-3 yrs)
• Presentation/discussion of plan
• Initiation of select activities
• Phase III Full Implementation

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Activities 2000-2001

• Presentation to Faculty Council (9/00)
• Open Forum (1/01)
• Student satisfaction/experience survey
• survey selection process (12/00)
• administer survey, analyze data (Spring 2001)
• Collection and collation of data
• First Annual Assessment Report (5/01)
• Assessment Plan revision

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Future Activities

• Revise the Assessment Plan
• Develop plans to Assess the following
• core curriculum, general abilities
• specific programs (academic, student service)
• assessment plan
• Expand the collection, collation and
  communication of data
• Determine appropriate reporting structure
• Procure support, personnel, etc.

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• "Assessment is the systematic collection, review,
  and use of information about educational programs
  undertaken for the purpose of improving student
  learning and development."
• from Assessment Essentials
• by Palomba and Banta 1999