BIS and Assessment

SO WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?  ASSESSMENT  Can schedule somewhat predictably  Can limit number of instruments to use  Can plan for demand and budget for numbers needed  Can offer multiple chances to succeed  BIS  May be asked to provide services on demand or with little planning time  May be asked for obscure or little-used tests  May be hit with budget surprises  Usually high-stakes, one shot opportunity

FINDING COMMON GROUND  Spend time in the other “realm”  TALK (Try A Little Kindness)  Research possible instruments in advance for recommended use, validity, reliability, and cost  Train appropriate staff as proctors for fill-in duty  Leverage TIP money when possible; project 25% more expenditure than predictable

IT MATTERS BECAUSE...  Businesses who hire the best employee “matches” are more likely to be productive and profitable.  Those businesses are often the first to expand and to need new hires.  If the assessment collaboration has been carefully built...  A trust relationship is more likely to exist;  Student assessment results will be better received and understood by the company.

BOTTOM LINE =  BIS clients benefit by making better decisions based on data.  BIS department benefits by generating more contracts and services that are billable and/or reimbursable.  Full-time programs benefit by expanding guidance and counseling information, adding employment connections for students, and documenting skill levels (accountability).

It’s essentially a matter of remembering to look at both sides of the coin.