Transcript Transforming Oneonta’s Assessment Culture: Assessing What We VALUE College Senate

Transforming Oneonta’s
Assessment Culture: Assessing
What We VALUE
College Senate
SUNY Oneonta
September 22, 2008
Presenter
Patty Francis
Associate Provost for Institutional
Assessment & Effectiveness
“…institutional assessment
efforts should not be concerned
about valuing what can be
measured but, instead, about
measuring that which is valued.”
- Banta, Lund, Black, & Oblander (1996)
Assessment for Accountability Vs.
Assessment for Enhancement
Assessment for Accountability
 Compliance
with external accreditors, certification
bodies, and other entities the major function
 Assessment activity more “stop and start” (i.e,
frantic) in response to external requirements
 Assessment more “top down” than “bottom up”
and overseen/conducted by small portion of
campus community
 Not much institutional attention to assessment
once external mandates are met
Assessment for Accountability Vs.
Assessment for Enhancement
Assessment for Enhancement
 Major
impetus for assessment: How can we use
data to get better?
 Assessment part of institution’s “SOP” – ongoing,
not intermittent and intense
 Process more faculty- and staff-driven (but, with
administrative support), with many individuals from
across campus – including students – participating
in process
 Assessment acknowledged by institution as
valuable – and valued - activity
So, How Does Action Plan Promote
Assessment as Enhancement?
1.
Using Data to Get Better
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2.
Focus on documenting assessment activity, linking that activity
to objectives, and “closing the loop”
Comprehensive review of institutional data sources in order to
address important issues related to accuracy, availability, and
access
Assessment as “SOP”


Development of templates to guide units – academic and
administrative – that need assistance as well as of ongoing
assessment schedule
Formation of standing committees to help in these efforts
So, How Does Action Plan Promote
Assessment as Enhancement?
3.
Participatory Process with Clear Administrative Support
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4.
Oversight committees comprised primarily by faculty and staff
Ongoing outreach activity by APIAE Office (including workshops,
orientation sessions, and meetings with faculty, staff, and
students)
Assessment as Valued Activity
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Development and implementation of incentive grant programs
Institution-wide assessment philosophy and resolution endorsed
by College Senate
Use of special events and media to recognize assessment
activity (e.g., Assessment Day, Web site)
Constructing processes for linking good assessment, planning,
and budgeting
“…assessment for accountability
may begin to complement, and
even strengthen, assessment for
improvement.”
- Banta (2007)
Important Questions
1. What are your biggest concerns about the
action plan (or, about assessment more
generally)?
2. What would alleviate those concerns?