Session 3                         1:15-2:15

People Support What They Help to Build: Developing a Sustainable Culture for Assessment Through Empowerment Evaluation  

University Center Ballroom Lounge 

 

Jeff Cullen                                               

Ph.D. Candidate                   

Iowa State University

 

Being the “assessment person” can be hazardous to your self-esteem. You spend weeks gathering data, writing reports, and disseminating those reports widely...only to find that too many of your colleagues use them as doorstops or dust collectors. In this program, we’ll talk about the emergent paradigm of empowerment evaluation and how it can used to promote reflective practice, engage constituents in the assessment process, facilitate collaborations, delegate the work of assessment, and enhance organizational learning. 

 

Getting Started with CAS

University Center Room 310

 

Dr. Jan Arminio                                        President                                                   

Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education 

 

Now that most professionals have realized the necessity of conducting assessments, the next step becomes conducting assessments that inform us on how to become purveyors of sustainable learning and leading. Integrating a CAS review within a comprehensive assessment program can lead to sustainable leading and learning. This pre-conference session takes the participants through the 7 steps of conducting a CAS review as well as situates a CAS review within a comprehensive assessment model for the purpose of shaping and enhancing student learning. 

 

Closing the Loop: Tying Assessment to an Overall Strategic Planning Process 

University Center Room 312 

 

Dr. Dane Foust                                               

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs       

Salisbury University

 

Ms. Jennifer Berkman                                        

Director of Student Health Services               

Salisbury University 

 

A comprehensive assessment plan provides a framework for tying together mission statements, values statements, learning outcomes, goals, strategies, and tactics for carrying out the work of a Student Affairs division. Professionals new to assessment as well as the experienced Student Affairs division. Professionals new to assessment as well as the experienced student affairs practitioner can benefit from learning how to create as assessment driven strategic plan that engages departments within Student Affairs as well as colleagues and stakeholders outside of the division in producing an assessment plan that supports and facilitates good strategic planning.

Session 2                         11:00-12:00

Qualitative Methodology Toolkit

University Center Ballroom Lounge

 

Dr. Gavin Henning                                                 Commission on Assessment for Student Development, Chair Elect

Director of Undergraduate Evaluation and Research

Dartmouth College

 

In this session we will discuss topics that are important to understand when employing qualitative data collection methods such as interviews and focus groups. These issues include trustworthiness, authenticity, strength/weakness of qualitative inquiry methods, and qualitative sampling 

 

Composing a Professional Life: The ACPA ASK Standards as an Assessment Foundation

University Center Room 310 

 

Dr. Alice Mitchell                                        Commission on Assessment for Student Development, Chair Elect

Assistant Professor/Assistant Director, School of Undergraduate Studies

University of Maryland University College

 

How do you figure out what skills and knowledge are needed in assessment? There is such a bewildering array of things to know! This session can help by introducing you to the soon-to-be issued ACPA ASK standards. As a group, we’ll gain a preliminary understanding of ASK, then identify areas in which each of us want to develop in our assessment skills and knowledge. We’ll also work together to identify ways through which to acquire those areas of skill and knowledge 

 

Assessment Projects in Student Services at Anne Arundel Community College 

University Center Room 312

 

Ms. Terry Clay                                            

Assistant Dean, Student Development & Success   

Anne Arundel Community College 

 

Dr. Shree Iyengar                                       

Director, Learning Outcomes Assessment               

Anne Arundel Community College

 

Ms. Christine Storck                                       

Assistant Director, Student Activities                   

Anne Arundel Community College 

 

Consistent with a collective model developed by a statewide, Affinity groups of Maryland community Colleges’ student services colleagues, Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) has defined learning outcomes in student services and is implementing some assessment projects. Specific use of assessment tools such as Student Leadership Involvement Portfolios, and available data on assessment of outcomes in first year advising and new student orientation  will be shared with the audience. Illustrative handouts will be made available, encouraging audience participation in discussions.

Session 1                      9:45-10:45

Assessment Design

University Center Ballroom Lounge

 

Dr. Gavin Henning                                                 Commission on Assessment for Student Development, Chair Elect

Director of Undergraduate Evaluation and Research

Dartmouth College

 

In this workshop we will look at the assessment process in depth. We will cover the 13 steps involved in an assessment plan including aligning the assessment, developing outcomes, and measuring summative outcomes. You will begin to create one for you department or office.

 

Developing Learning Outcomes for Institutional Accreditation Review

University Center Room 310

 

Dr. Jim Osteen                        

Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs        

University of Maryland, College Park

 

Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston                               

Executive Director, University Career Center

University of Maryland, College Park

 

The University of Maryland is in the process of an accreditation review by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. As part of this process the Division of Student Affairs identified seven learning outcomes to be assessed in the current academic year and began the process of developing a comprehensive schema of learning objectives based upon Learning Objectives for the programs and services offered by the division. This program will provide a progress report on this effort.

 

Student Learning Outcomes Assessment in Student Services: A Statewide Community College Initiative in Maryland

University Center Room 312

 

Dr. Deborah Cruise                                          

Vice President, Student Development and Institutional Effectiveness                                               

Harford Community College

 

Dr. Debra McClellan                                          

Associate Vice President for Counseling and Career Services

Frederick Community College

 

The Maryland Community College Chief  Student Affairs Officers implemented a statewide learning outcomes assessment programs for student services. Assessment projects at each college are designed to measure the degree to which students are improving as self-directed learners in functional areas of student services. Presenters will discuss the development of the program and how it documents student learning associated with student services, supports identification and adoption of best practices, and allows for benchmarking among the colleges. Early data analysis and recommendations of the projects will be provided.