Assessment > What it Means and Why it is Important

1. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Assessment > What it Means and Why it is Important Developed and Presented by the Assessment Committee Faculty Day, August 28, 2008

2. Assessment > We Aim to … • Increase understanding of the College’s Assessment Initiative • Create familiarity with our College’s Institutional Learning Assessment Plan • Increase awareness of current and planned activities related to assessment • Communicate methods to stay connected Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

3. VPAA Initiative Assessment > How We Got Here Relationships Between College Plans Learning Goals Guiding Principles Conceptual Relationships • Sr. Marilyn Sunderman • Kathleen Clements • June Marshall • Karen Lemke • Lisa Theriault • Margaret Hourigan • Greg Gull • Sr. Patricia Flynn • Scott Balcomb • Katrina Hoop • John Hufstader • Janet Douglas • Mark Green • Joyce Coburn • Beth Auger • Jonathan Malmude • Bill Yates • Sue Kelly • Dale Brooker • Nick Benfaremo • Gail Marchigiano • Bill Lemke • Nina Eduljee • Cynthia Mowles Institutional Assessment Committee • Nina Eduljee • Greg Gull • Gail Marchigiano • Steven Bridge Institutional Learning Assessment Plan Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

4. Assessment > What is Your Initial Reaction? Avoiding Confused Knowledgeable Happy Questioning Unhappy Red Faced Contemplative Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

5. Assessment > So What is it? “An ongoing process aimed at understanding, documenting and improving student learning.” — Stiehl, 2002 “The systematic gathering of information about student learning and the factors that affect learning, undertaken with the resources, time, and expertise available, for the purpose of improving learning.” — Walvoord, 2004 “The systematic collection, review, and use of information about educational programs undertaken for the purpose of improving student learning and development.” Palomba & Banta, 1999 Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

6. What Does That Mean? Without student assessment, it would be impossibleto know if students are meeting the goals and expectations of an institution, department, or class. An instructor who assumes that students are learning just because they attend class may end up being disappointed when it comes to exams or papers. There is often a gap between what was taught by the teacher and what was learned by the student. Assessment provides the necessary information to identify and bridge this gap. Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

7. “Assessment does not need to be complicated … and, rightly used it can be a powerful tool for improvement. Good information in the right hands is potentially the best lever for change. If assessment is done properly, it can provide a basis for wiser planning and budgeting, and change in curriculum, pedagogy, staffing, programming, and studentsupport, rather than wasting resources on the latest educational fad or vague notions about what might be effective…further, careful attention to students’ learning by departments and the institution can help create a climateofcaring and engagement that supports students’ own commitmentto their learning.” — Walvoord, 2004 Clearly, no institution that claims to take seriously their dedication to student learning can do so without the aid of assessment. Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

8. We are Accountable … Rooted in and professing fidelity to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the doctrines and heritage of the Roman Catholic Church, Saint Joseph's College, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, is a liberal arts college that nurtures intellectual, spiritual and social growth in students of all ages and all faiths within a value-centered environment. —SJCME Mission Statement “Regional and professional accreditationagencies across the United States are explicitly requiring demonstrableevidenceof planning processes that aresystematic, and that are rooted in quantitativeandqualitativemeasures” — Middaugh & Seybert, 2006 A comprehensive assessment program that incorporates these measures is a principle means of satisfying accountability. Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

9. Assessment > Goals “What gets measured, gets attended to; What gets attended to, gets done” — Anonymous SJCME Mission Core Values Learning Goals Intellectual Spiritual Social Respect Compassion Justice Faith Excellence Integrity Community Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

10. Assessment > Target Outcomes Student Learning Outcomes Intellectual Spiritual Social Institutional Level • Passion for Learning • Decision Making Skills and Thinking Abilities • Information and Technological Literacy • Effective Communication • Career Preparation • Global Awareness and Perspective • Social Responsibility and Justice • Environmental Responsibility • Ethics and Integrity • Faith and Spirituality Department Level Course Level Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

11. Assessment > Working Together Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

12. Assessment > Plan Outline • Institutional Learning Assessment Plan Components • Guiding Principles of Assessment • Mission Goals and Values of the College • Institutional Student Learning Outcomes • Areas and Levels of Mission Fulfillment • Organizational Chart and Role of Vice Presidents • Assessment Process • Assessment at the Course/Department Level • Assessment at the Institutional Level • Conclusion Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

13. Assessment > What’s Next • Read the Assessment Plan and provide feedback to Institutional Assessment Directors • Develop comprehensive Assessment Communications Plan All Faculty September 2008 VPAA and Institutional Assessment Directors • Meet with Department Chairs to discuss and finalize assessment methodology and metrics • Workshops with all faculty members to discuss and finalize assessment methodology and metrics • Communicate Assessment Plan to non-faculty stakeholders Department Chairs and Institutional Assessment Directors All Faculty and Institutional Assessment Directors October 2008 Students, Administration , etc. and Institutional Assessment Directors • Commence Program Reviews All Stakeholders November 2008 Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee

14. Assessment > Stay Connected • Learning AssessmentLink on mySJC page • http://sigma.sjcme.edu/mySJC/LearningAssessment.html • Email LearningAssessment@sjcme.edu • Quarterly Newsletter starting January 2009 Developed by the SJCME Assessment Committee