Fostering Staff Engagement in the Assessment Process

AN IMPROVEMENT FOCUSED APPROACH

Lisa Snyder, Ed.D. Director of Academic Effectiveness and Evaluation Office of Academic Affairs lmsnyder@fortlewis.edu

Jeff Dupont Director of Recreation Services Co-Chair Student Affairs Assessment Committee Division of Student Affairs dupont_j@fortlewis.edu

Reflections on Assessment A LITTLE CONTEXT

2012-2016 Strategic Plan GoalsOpportunity for Improvement: There are no uniform guidelines for assessment across campus. As such, there is no mechanism that formal assessment is being instituted at the course and department or program level.

Goal: Create a culture of assessment on campus that is meaningful to faculty and enhances overall student learning.

HLC Criterion 4The institution demonstrates a commitment to educational achievement and improvement through ongoing assessment of student learning.1. The institution has clearly stated goals for student learning and effective processes for assessment of student learning and achievement of learning goals.2. The institution assesses achievement of the learning outcomes that it claims for its curricular and co-curricular programs.

Goal for the Division of Student AffairsCreate a sustainable, ongoing culture of assessment, owned and championed by the staff, that highlights successes and targets opportunities for improvement.

A Culture of Assessment Exists When:

A shared goal exists to continually take action to improve performance Shared and established processes supported by leadership Data is used to influence decision-making and planning Staff ownership in the process Annual examination of existing practices Alignment with the mission and values of the organization

FrameworkAN IMPROVEMENT-FOCUSED APPROACH TO CREATING A CULTURE OF ASSESSMENT

Foundational Components

1. Improvement-focused2. Administrative commitment and support3. Leadership within Student Affairs4. Student learning outcomes

& shared understanding of terminology

5. Systematic and sustainable assessment plans 6. Ongoing professional development7. Information sharing & storage8. Celebration of success

A Focus on Improvement

Although change will not always result in improvement, all improvement requires change.

Perla, Provost, Parry, 2013

• Carnegie Foundations work in Improvement Science

• Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge and his Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) Cycle for Learning, Testing & Implementation

A Framework for Learning & Improvement

Associates in Process Improvement, 2015

Based On:

Administrative Commitment and Support

Leadership is essential for assessment work to succeed. If leadership is perceived to lack commitment,

meaningful culture change will be difficult, if not impossible.

Leadership within Student Affairs

SA Assessment Committee Liaison Model Peer Support Design the process

Common Language Co-Curricular - Out-of-classroom activities, services and events

that contribute to academic learning. Domain – overarching learning goals for the Division of

Student Affairs

Learning Outcome – statements that describe significant and essential learning that learners have achieved, and can reliably demonstrate at the end of a course or program

written in the form, the student should be able to… meaningful, manageable, measureable

COLLEGE’S MISSIONSTUDENT AFFAIRS PURPOSE STATEMENT

CULT

URAL

CO

MPET

ENCE

SOCI

AL

RESP

ONSI

BILI

TY

BALA

NCED

LIF

E CH

OICE

S

CRIT

ICAL

LIF

E SK

ILLS

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

Clear Learning Outcomes

What we hope students will take away from our programs. How do we

hope they will have changed?What will students be able to articulate or demonstrate?

Systematic and Sustainable Assessment Plans

5-year assessment plans Yearly assessment plans Annual Assessment Reports Manageable timeline Templates are critical!!

Timeline for Implementation

Ongoing Professional Development

Ensure widespread understanding Ongoing Include time to work on projects Begin with basic concepts, then build competence Allow time for sharing External conferences and speakers provide broader

perspective

Information Sharing & Storage

Celebrate Success! Assessment Highlights at Director Meetings

o Dedicate 10 min to a program End-of-Year Assessment Showcase

o Celebrate success stories and share learning moments

o Solicit feedback for process improvements

What have we learned?

1. Spend more time on the “why?”2. Spend time preparing staff for change3. Identify a common outcome to assess in year one4. Understand that there is a Bell Curve5. Once the foundation is established – increase the flexibility6. Vertical and horizontal alignment is key 7. Identify the difference between Research and Assessment 8. Include time to reflect. Be patient and persevere. Keep moving

forward and trust the process

QUESTIONS?

Lisa Snyder lmsnyder@fortlewis.edu

Jeff DupontDupont_J@fortlewis.edu

ReferencesBarham, J.D., Scott, J.H. (2006). Increasing accountability in student affairs through a new comprehensive assessment model. The College Student Affairs Journal, 25:2, 209-219.Lakos, A., Phipps, S. (2004). Creating a culture of assessment: A catalyst for organizational change. Portal-Libraries and the Academy, 4:3, 345-361.Perla, R.J., Provost, L.P., Parry, G.J. (2013). Seven propositions of the science of improvement: Exploring Foundations, Q Manage Health Care, 22:3, 170-186.Porterfield, K.T., Roper, L.D., Witt, E.J. (2011). Redefining our mission: What does higher education need from

student affairs? Journal of College & Character, 12:4, 1-7.Seagraves, B., Dean, L.A. (2010). Conditions supporting a culture of assessment in student affairs divisions at

small colleges and universities. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 47:3, 307-324.Thakur, Sidharth, Edwards, Ginny (2010). Stages of the Change Curve. Accessed on June 22, 2015 via http://www.brighthubpm.com/change-management/87472-stages-of-the-change-curve/Weiner, B.J. (2009). A theory of organizational readiness for change. Implantation Science, 4:67.Weiner, W.F. (n.d.) Establishing a culture of assessment: Fifteen elements of assessment success – how many

does your campus have? Accessed on Feb. 2, 2015 via http://www.aaup.org/article/establishing-culture- assessment#