1. Functional Area Assessment
Farmingdale State College

2. Assessment
Assessment is a process of gathering and analyzing information to gauge if your unit is performing well and then using that information to improve your unit’s performance.
What are we trying to do?
How well are we doing it?
Using the answers to the first two questions, how can you improve what you are doing?

3. Misconceptions
The results of assessment will be used to evaluate employee performance.
The administration might use the results to eliminate some of the department’s programs or services.
We can come up with an assessment plan this year and then use it every year thereafter.
Our program is working well, we don’t really need to bother with assessment.
Assessment is time-consuming and complex.

4. Assessment Plan Step 1-Mission
Define the mission of your department or unit
Your mission serves as the foundation for assessment planning.
Mission statements should be not more than three or four lines and should clearly and effectively communicate:
who you are
what you do
why you do it
and for whom
Example: The mission of the Office of Institutional Research is to support the understanding, planning, operation, and evaluation of Farmingdale State College through the compilation and dissemination of reliable, accurate and timely data, information and analyses to the campus community and its stakeholders.

5. Assessment Plan Step 2 -Goals
Goals are desired end results for the service or program, rather than actions. Goals are related to the department’s mission
Tips for writing goals:
1. Focus on the ends, not the means -- what the desired “end state” should be.
2. Goals should be stable over a number of years, not time dependent. If it is time-dependent, you are probably writing an objective rather than a goal.
3. Goals should be directly related to the work of your department, your mission.
4. List only key goals – between three and five is ideal.
5. Assess all goals within a five-year period.

6. Assessment Plan Step 2 -Goals
Examples of Department Goals:
“Evaluation and testing of the English language proficiency of incoming graduates will be timely and accurate.”
“Library patrons have access to the appropriate information resources needed for learning and research.”
“Users will receive prompt assistance in effecting resolving technical problems related to university networking services.”

7. Assessment Plan Step 3 -Objectives
Objectives are the tasks to be completed in order to achieve a goal.
Objectives are specific and measurable and are targeted to be accomplished within a specified time period.
Goals vs. Objectives
Goals are broad
Objectives are narrow
Goals are general intentions
Objectives are precise
Goals are abstract
Objectives are concrete
Goals are generally difficult to measure
Objectives are measurable

8. Assessment Plan Step 3 -Objectives
Example:
Goal: Help students explore career choices and choices of academic major based on their interests, values, skills, and abilities.
Objectives:
Offer workshops on career choices for students during the academic year.
Increase student attendance at career day.

9. Assessment Plan Step 4 – Method of Assessment
For each objective, describe methods you are using or plan to use to measure how well your department or unit is actually performing in relation to the objective.
Start by taking an inventory of the kinds of tools your department or program is already using.
Student satisfaction or opinion surveys
Number of complaints
Count of program participants
Growth in participation
Average wait time
Average service time
Staff training hours
Number of applications or users
Attendance at events

10. Assessment Plan Step 5 – Expected Results
Examples of Expected Results:
To offer 5 workshops on career choices for students during the academic year.
To increase student participation in career day in fall 2017 by 15% over fall 2016.
Updated College Portrait (fact book) is accessible on the web by February 2018.
Feedback from the 2018 annual survey will indicate that 70% of the users using the newly implemented technology services will be very satisfied or extremely satisfied with the newly implemented services.

11. Assessment Plan Step 5 – Expected Results
Tips for Expected Results:
Avoid vague targets such as ― the department will increase retention over last year
Include time table
Set a target that is meaningful; maybe a stretch but can be achieved
Avoid unrealistically low targets

12. Assessment Report
After assessment data and information is collected, the results should be analyzed to determine to what extent expected results have been achieved.
Consider:
What does data indicate about the level of service provided and/or the satisfaction of the client?
Are there specific areas where performance is outstanding or weak?
Was the assessment tool sufficient or does it need revision?

13. Assessment Report
Based on assessment findings, develop an action plan and reassess – Closing the Loop
Examples of changes or actions:
Implement a new program
Implement a new method or tool
Realign personnel responsibilities
Provide employee training
Change hours of operation
Change marketing strategy

14. FSC Assessment Forms
Annual Assessment Plan Form Annual Assessment Report Form Assessment Summary Form for Committee Members