SAARC Purpose and Member Role  Word Document 

Learning and Service Objectives  Word Document

UMBC Guiding Principles for Student Affairs Assessment  Word Document

SAARC exists to: 

1. Serve as an anchor and starting point for building coordinated, purposeful assessment activities into the regular operations of the UMBC Division of Student Affairs.

2. Develop and articulate an approach to assessment that fits the mission, needs, goals and cultures of the student affairs division and the university. This approach (model and processes) will be grounded in the substantial bodies of literature (best practices and theory) and research that already exist about conducting assessment, student development, and how students learn. 

3. Write the division’s first assessment plan by June 2006. In the future, this group may be involved in or direct the review of annual departmental assessment plans which make up the division-wide plan.

4. Perform coordinating and consulting functions within the division for matters related to assessment.

5. Function as a learning community that makes recommendations about professional development opportunities related to assessment efforts.

6. Communicate the results from annual divisional assessment projects and how these were used.

SAARC members are expected to:

7. Communicate and share information and knowledge about assessment with their department.

8. Communicate and share ideas, concerns, and issues related to assessment that emerge in their departments with SAARC.

9. Encourage wide participation in assessment activities.

10. Serve as resources to those within their departments who are implementing assessment projects.

Learning and Service Objectives

The Division of Student Affairs' curriculum (experiences, programs, and services) is intended to enable the following:

Student Learning-Cognitive

·      Knowledge acquisition, integration, and application

·      An environment that supports study, learning, research, and application of knowledge

·      Enhanced cognitive skills

·      Academic achievement 

Student Learning-Interpersonal and Practical Competence

·      Self-awareness

·      Multicultural competence

·      Emotional and physical health

·      Civic engagement and humanitarianism

·      Vocational competence

·      Economic competence and self-sufficiency

·      Community membership

·      Leadership

·      Communication skills  

Delivery of Quality Services and Programs

·      Safety

·      Fair and caring policies and practices

·      Responsiveness

·      Ongoing evaluation and assessment for improvement
 

UMBC Division of Student Affairs Guiding Principles for Assessment 

1. Assessment is based on UMBC’s stated vision, mission, and goals; the Division of Student Affairs mission and goals; individual unit objectives.

2. Assessment in the Division of Student Affairs is conducted in concert with and within the context of the assessment activities of the university.

3. The primary purpose of UMBC’s Student Affairs assessment is to provide evidence of student learning, program/service quality, and student development.

4. The Division of Student Affairs recognizes that learning is multidimensional; therefore, our assessment practices provide equal opportunities for students of varied backgrounds and learning styles to demonstrate what they have learned.

5. Assessment uses multiple methods of data collection since no single assessment strategy is perfect.

6. Members of each Student Affairs Department are responsible for determining assessment methods that demonstrate progress toward stated program and divisional goals.

7. Assessment is a collaborative effort involving staff, faculty, students, administrators, and outside constituents.

8. Assessment is a process that contributes to ongoing, regular, and continuous improvement of student learning, student development, services and programs, as well as staff development.

9. Assessment results are not used punitively against staff, students, faculty, administrators, or programming efforts, but rather to promote positive programmatic or organizational change when warranted.

10. Assessment allows the Division of Student Affairs to promote an understanding, appreciation, and respect for our profession which in turn allows others to value and benefit from our expertise on student learning, student success, and development.

11. Learning outcomes and assessment results are communicated ethically to improve student learning and improve student affairs programs and services.

Developed for UMBC Division of Student Affairs based on West Virginia University’s Guiding Principals for 

Assessment, with permission from Dr. Susan Aloi, Coordinator of Planning & Assessment, 

WVU College of Human Resources & Education.