Transcript Creating a Culture of Assessment

Arkansas State University – Jonesboro
Institutional Priority
“Developing a culture of assessment to
enhance institutional outcomes.”
Office of Institutional Research & Assessment
Dr. Kathryn Jones – Director
Dr. Josie Welsh-Assistant Director of Assessment
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Creating a “culture of assessment” is one of
ASUJ’s stated institutional priorities from
the University’s last strategic plan.
The institutional priority involves
implementing a flexible and comprehensive
institutional assessment strategy with
emphasis on academic programs and
general education to improve student
learning.
The priority also involves developing
consistent data at the institutional level to
support assessment and improvement.
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It is also important to note that it is a
requirement of the Higher Learning
Commission that ASUJ have stated learning
goals and outcomes for every ASUJ
undergraduate and graduate degree program
and general education. The Arkansas
Department of Higher Education also has
similar requirements.
To assist in the process of developing a
campus wide culture of assessment, an
Assistant Director of Assessment was hired.
Also, an assessment software package was
purchased (TracDat) to aid in documenting the
assessment of programs and services.
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Faculty can best contribute to developing an
assessment culture by linking course goals to
degree program goals, by clearly
communicating course-level goals and
outcomes to students, and by participating in
senior-level assessments of our graduating
students.
Start with this one question…ask your
colleagues, and your chair, “What ARE our
degree program goals and learning outcomes
or objectives?”
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For those of you who need assistance with the
assessment of programs, courses, students, or
services, Dr. Josie Welsh, Assistant Director of
Assessment, or Dr. Kathryn Jones, Director, is
available to aid you (in developing learning goals,
outcomes, objectives, measurements, and
curriculum mapping).
For assistance or information regarding
assessment and/orTracDat software, contact the
Office of Institutional Research, Planning, &
Assessment by email [email protected] or call
extension 3027.