1. Effective Assessments
Assessment Guidelines and Activities for Student Affairs
Presented by Susan Platt, Executive Director of Assessment
June 3, 2016

2. Assessment Matters (pp. 1-3)
One of the highest priorities in the division for VP Carmen Taylor
Support available through assessment facilitators and the newly established Division of Student Affairs Assessment Center
Assessment team members note the importance of professional development they’ve been afforded so they can facilitate assessment for the division
Assessment team members see assessment as vital for our work; assessment should guide our decisions
Main challenge: encouraging units to embrace assessment and make it integral to their practices

3. Characteristics of Effective Assessments (p. 4)
Place students in the center
Involve strategic planning and alignment with University mission
Can be quick and as effective as more time-consuming activities; (don’t need to assess everything)
Are enhanced through teamwork and collaboration
Should contain a variety of quantitative and qualitative data sources
Are cyclical and use backwards designs
Are tied to a taxonomy of student outcomes that are both cognitive and affective

4. Backwards Design (pp. 5-6)
What is it that you want students to be able to learn and do as a result of your programs, activities and services?
What opportunities will you provide to help students achieve these things?
How will you assess the achievement of your program goals?
How will you use the results to make improvements?

5. Assessment Center Activities (p. 7)
SPSS series
WASC accreditation
Data fellows
Assessment facilitation
Quantitative and qualitative measurements
Assessment webinars
Table talks with other institutions

6. Student Learning Outcomes (p. 8)
Essential Alignments
CAS Frameworks
Institutional learning outcomes
WASC core competencies
Identifying your strongest alignments activity (p. 9)
Scaffolding learning outcomes in student and academic affairs
Three dimensional pyramid with six levels

7. Assessment Templates (p. 10)
Planning in early fall; try to plan for at least two of these:
Student learning outcomes
University strategic priorities
Participation rates
Retention and graduation rates
Student needs & satisfaction
Progress reporting in late spring
Should be brief- highlights only
Can contain text, visuals, or both; visuals (charts, graphs, word clouds) are particularly effective
Note: planning and progress reporting templates are on the Student Affairs Assessment website.

8. Student Testimonials (p. 11)
Through programs, services, and activities, make it a habit to obtain student testimonials about their experiences
One minute memoirs
Zines
Brief essays
Interviews
Focus groups
Other?

9. Assessment References (pp. 12-15)
Key references for assessing student learning, development, and success
Models of best practices at other institutions

10. Assessment Center LA5-173 (p. 19)
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