1. Thinking Beyond Surveys: Developing an Assessment Plan for Your DS Office Kristie Orr, Ph.D. Director, Disability Services and Paul Harwell, M.A. Accommodations Counselor Texas A&M University

2. Learning Outcomes Participants will be able to list and define the basic components of a comprehensive assessment plan Participants will be able to identify resources for developing their assessment plans

3. Why is Assessment Important? Guides decisions Necessary for accreditation Required by many universities Justifies our necessity

4. Components of an Assessment Plan Mission Statement Goals Objectives Measures Outcomes Action Plans

5. Mission Statement According to Wikipedia: A mission statement is a formal, short, written statement of the purpose of a company or organization. Example: Disability Services promotes an academic experience for students with disabilities that is fully inclusive and accessible.

6. Goals Should be in alignment with DS/University/Division mission, goals, strategic plans, etc. Should be clear and explicitly stated More broad than outcomes or objectives

7. Outcomes/Objectives More specific than goals Learning outcomes –What will students know or be able to do? Program outcomes –Effectiveness –Satisfaction

8. Objectives Specific Measureable Attainable Reasonable Timely

9. Measures and Achievement Targets Quantitative –Numbers based –Objective Qualitative –Smaller sample size –More in-depth knowledge –More difficult interpretation

10. Measures Quantitative –Surveys –Tracking –Qualitative Focus groups Open-ended interviews or questionnaires

11. Findings What are your results? How do you interpret the results? Who do you share the results with? –You should know this BEFORE you begin

12. What do you do with findings? Data analysis Report writing Where do results go? –Website? –Up the chain? –To the constituents?

13. Action Plans Now what??? Should develop action plans as soon as reasonable

14. Resources CAS Standards AHEAD Program Standards Your institution’s mission, goals, strategic plans, etc. Your division’s mission, goals, strategic plans, etc.