View
219
Download
0
Category
Tags:
Preview:
Citation preview
1
GETTING STARTED WITH GETTING STARTED WITH ASSESSMENTASSESSMENT
Barbara PennipedeBarbara Pennipede
Associate Director of AssessmentAssociate Director of Assessment
Office of Planning, Assessment and ResearchOffice of Planning, Assessment and Research
March 2002March 2002
2
WORKSHOP TOPICSWORKSHOP TOPICS
What is assessment?What is assessment? Why is assessment important to Pace Why is assessment important to Pace
University?University? Why assessment in Administrative and Why assessment in Administrative and
Educational Support Units (AES)Educational Support Units (AES) Steps in developing an assessment plan for Steps in developing an assessment plan for
your unit.your unit.
3
What is assessment?What is assessment?
ASSESS (V): TO EXAMINE CAREFULLYASSESS (V): TO EXAMINE CAREFULLY
““Assessment is the systematic collection, Assessment is the systematic collection, review and use of information about review and use of information about educational programs undertaken for the educational programs undertaken for the purpose of improving student learning and purpose of improving student learning and development.” ( Marchese 1987)development.” ( Marchese 1987)
4
The Importance of Assessment to The Importance of Assessment to Pace UniversityPace University
To improve the effects of teaching on To improve the effects of teaching on student learning and developmentstudent learning and development
To examine and enhance institutional To examine and enhance institutional effectivenesseffectiveness
To advance the reputation and image of To advance the reputation and image of Pace through the quality of its programsPace through the quality of its programs
5
The Importance of Assessment to The Importance of Assessment to Pace UniversityPace University
To attract and retain qualified studentsTo attract and retain qualified students To maintain and strengthen its standing To maintain and strengthen its standing
among its competitors among its competitors To satisfy the requirements of accrediting To satisfy the requirements of accrediting
agenciesagencies
6
Statement by the Middle States Statement by the Middle States CommissionCommission
An accredited institution is characterized by:An accredited institution is characterized by:
Linkage of outcomes assessment to the Linkage of outcomes assessment to the institution’s ongoing planning and resource institution’s ongoing planning and resource allocation process and to strategic efforts to allocation process and to strategic efforts to improve institutional quality.improve institutional quality.
7
Why Assessment in Why Assessment in Administrative and Education Administrative and Education
Support Units?Support Units?
To know if we are offering the right To know if we are offering the right services and how well we are services and how well we are providing themproviding them
8
Reasons Often CitedReasons Often Cited
Effective linking of AES services to Effective linking of AES services to academic programsacademic programs
Accreditation requirementsAccreditation requirements Continuous quality improvementContinuous quality improvement Institutional effectivenessInstitutional effectiveness
9
Administrative and Education Administrative and Education Support Units Support Units
AdministrativeAdministrative
Provide services Provide services which maintain the which maintain the institutioninstitution
Are essential to its Are essential to its operationsoperations
No direct impact on No direct impact on instructional programsinstructional programs
Educational SupportEducational Support
May not be primarily May not be primarily instructional or instructional or academicacademic
Contributes directly to Contributes directly to student learning or student learning or instructioninstruction
10
Underlying Assumptions for Underlying Assumptions for Assessment in AESAssessment in AES
The primary aim of assessment is the The primary aim of assessment is the continuous improvement of campus continuous improvement of campus operations, especially as they support and operations, especially as they support and promote the University’s teaching and promote the University’s teaching and learning environmentlearning environment
Assessment is to be embedded as part of the Assessment is to be embedded as part of the normal order of businessnormal order of business
Assessment will be a cyclic process and an Assessment will be a cyclic process and an ongoing unit or programmatic activity.ongoing unit or programmatic activity.
11
Steps for Assessment ProcessSteps for Assessment Process Establish a linkage to the University’s Mission Establish a linkage to the University’s Mission
and Goalsand Goals Prepare the Unit Mission StatementPrepare the Unit Mission Statement Formulate Measurable ObjectivesFormulate Measurable Objectives Identify Activities and Strategies to Achieve Identify Activities and Strategies to Achieve
Objectives Objectives Identify Unit Means of Assessment and Criteria Identify Unit Means of Assessment and Criteria
for Successfor Success Conduct Assessment ActivitiesConduct Assessment Activities Document use of Results for Service Document use of Results for Service
ImprovementsImprovements
12
The Pace The Pace UniversityUniversity Mission Mission StatementStatement
“ “In keeping with its motto, In keeping with its motto, Opportunitas,Opportunitas, Pace Pace University offers qualified students the opportunity to University offers qualified students the opportunity to discover and fulfill their potential. At Pace, supportive discover and fulfill their potential. At Pace, supportive and challenging programs prepare graduates for and challenging programs prepare graduates for meaningful lives and successful careers in a rapidly meaningful lives and successful careers in a rapidly changing world. The University’s commitments changing world. The University’s commitments combine respect for traditional academic values with combine respect for traditional academic values with readiness to meet the challenges of the future with readiness to meet the challenges of the future with energy and innovation.”energy and innovation.”
13
Pace Mission Statement Core Pace Mission Statement Core ValuesValues
Giving highest priority to teaching and Giving highest priority to teaching and learninglearning
Placing the liberal arts and sciences at the Placing the liberal arts and sciences at the center of undergraduate educationcenter of undergraduate education
Stressing critical thinking, communication, Stressing critical thinking, communication, and technological competence as essential and technological competence as essential skillsskills
Fostering intellectual growth, ethical Fostering intellectual growth, ethical maturity, and civic responsibilitymaturity, and civic responsibility
14
Core Values continued…Core Values continued…
Balancing theory with practical applicationsBalancing theory with practical applications Responding to the individual needs of an Responding to the individual needs of an
increasingly diverse society and global increasingly diverse society and global economyeconomy
Preparing students for an increasingly Preparing students for an increasingly diverse society and global economydiverse society and global economy
Emphasizing service as an integral part of Emphasizing service as an integral part of teaching and life-long learningteaching and life-long learning
15
Pace Mission Statement Pace Mission Statement CommitmentsCommitments
Access and opportunity for qualified Access and opportunity for qualified students of diverse backgroundsstudents of diverse backgrounds
Maintaining collegiality and the free Maintaining collegiality and the free exchange of ideasexchange of ideas
Engaging students actively in the learning Engaging students actively in the learning processprocess
Involving students and faculty in decision-Involving students and faculty in decision-makingmaking
16
Pace Mission Statement Pace Mission Statement Commitments continued…Commitments continued…
Managing the University responsively, Managing the University responsively, effectively, and with financial responsibilityeffectively, and with financial responsibility
Providing an excellent, affordable private Providing an excellent, affordable private educationeducation
Continuing experimentation in the use of Continuing experimentation in the use of new technologies to support more effective new technologies to support more effective teaching and extend educational teaching and extend educational opportunitiesopportunities
17
Pace Mission StatementPace Mission Statement
““Our assets, values, and commitments Our assets, values, and commitments enable us to further individual opportunities enable us to further individual opportunities to learn, teach, and expand knowledge. to learn, teach, and expand knowledge. Thus, Pace University continues to embody Thus, Pace University continues to embody OpportunitasOpportunitas, renewing this theme for new , renewing this theme for new generations to whom we offer an education generations to whom we offer an education focused on student achievement and the focused on student achievement and the promotion of patterns of living and learning promotion of patterns of living and learning that will enlighten and endure.”that will enlighten and endure.”
18
Characteristics of Unit Mission Characteristics of Unit Mission StatementStatement
Describes the purpose of the unit, services Describes the purpose of the unit, services and clientsand clients
Is brief in lengthIs brief in length Provides linkage to and support of Provides linkage to and support of
University mission and goalsUniversity mission and goals Is understood and accepted by employees Is understood and accepted by employees
within the unitwithin the unit
19
Examples of AES Mission Examples of AES Mission StatementsStatements
Career CenterCareer Center
LibraryLibrary
Accounting OfficeAccounting Office
20
Formulate AES ObjectivesFormulate AES Objectives
Purpose of objectives:Purpose of objectives:
* support the Unit’s mission statement* support the Unit’s mission statement
* provide the linkage to the means of * provide the linkage to the means of
assessmentassessment
21
Types of AES ObjectivesTypes of AES Objectives
Process OrientedProcess Oriented
Volume of unit activityVolume of unit activity
EfficiencyEfficiency
ComplianceCompliance
Outcomes OrientedOutcomes Oriented
EffectivenessEffectiveness
Attitudinal OrientedAttitudinal Oriented
SatisfactionSatisfaction
What unit intends to What unit intends to accomplishaccomplish
What clients are able to do What clients are able to do after receiving AES servicesafter receiving AES services
How satisfied are clients with How satisfied are clients with AES servicesAES services
22
Formulating Unit Administrative Formulating Unit Administrative ObjectivesObjectives
Administrative Objectives should be:Administrative Objectives should be: Linked to the Unit Mission StatementLinked to the Unit Mission Statement RealisticRealistic Limited in numberLimited in number MeasurableMeasurable
23
Choosing the Short List of Choosing the Short List of Administrative ObjectivesAdministrative Objectives
Administrative Objectives initially chosen Administrative Objectives initially chosen should be: should be:
Targeted on those areas that can be Targeted on those areas that can be improved using currently available improved using currently available resources and personnelresources and personnel
Related to the services the unit providesRelated to the services the unit provides Relatively easy to assess within one cycleRelatively easy to assess within one cycle Directly under the control of the AES unitDirectly under the control of the AES unit
24
Identifying the Means of Identifying the Means of AssessmentAssessment
““When” will assessment activities take place?When” will assessment activities take place? Where will we find information that will reflect Where will we find information that will reflect
accomplishment of our objective?accomplishment of our objective? Exactly “How” will the assessment be Exactly “How” will the assessment be
accomplished?accomplished? ““How well” should the unit perform on the means How well” should the unit perform on the means
of assessment identified, if the unit is functioning of assessment identified, if the unit is functioning the way it should?the way it should?
25
Common Assessment ActivitiesCommon Assessment Activities
Client satisfaction measuresClient satisfaction measures Direct countsDirect counts Results of external evaluationResults of external evaluation Outcome measuresOutcome measures
26
Unit Criteria of SuccessUnit Criteria of Success
Identify a reasonable level of service Identify a reasonable level of service improvement to expect given the resources improvement to expect given the resources and personnel of the unitand personnel of the unit
Set performance levels as reference points Set performance levels as reference points or benchmarksor benchmarks
Select a percentage of improvement for its Select a percentage of improvement for its servicesservices
Use peer institutions who provide the same Use peer institutions who provide the same service to help identifyservice to help identify
27
Use of Results for Service Use of Results for Service ImprovementImprovement
Changes in organizational structureChanges in organizational structure Changes in process proceduresChanges in process procedures Relations with the constituenciesRelations with the constituencies Changes in assessment proceduresChanges in assessment procedures Changes to comply with regulatory Changes to comply with regulatory
requirementsrequirements Internal resource reallocationInternal resource reallocation Justification for additional resourcesJustification for additional resources
Recommended