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Auburn’s Strategy for Competency Assessment. Cal Clark & Kathleen Hale NASPAA 2012. Central Conclusion I. Start work on Competency Assessment at beginning of Self Study After 2010 Accreditation Institute, this became our top priority
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Auburn’s Strategy forCompetency Assessment Cal Clark & Kathleen Hale NASPAA 2012
Central Conclusion I • Start work on Competency Assessment at beginning of Self Study • After 2010 Accreditation Institute, this became our top priority • Decide how competencies will be defined and assessed as soon as possible • We decided to use written assignments in Core classes
Central Conclusion II • The “Grubby Details” are probably the most important • Even after Competency Assessment System formulated and approved, several iterations of implementation are needed before it will work smoothly • Surprises in our first assessment of Universal Competency #3 • Continuing need to fill in details
Central Conclusion III • Recruitment of Nucleus Faculty to work on this project key • Types of faculty response: 1) Enthusiastic, 2)Passively Accepting, 3) Hostile • Auburn: • Committee of three Enthusiasts • Support by rest of Nucleus Faculty • No overt opposition
Major Components of Plan • Annual Assessment of 5 Universal Competencies, beginning Spring 2012 • Annual Assessment of Competencies in 4 Formal Specializations, beginning Spring 2013 • Assessment of MPA Student Portfolios, beginning Spring 2013
Rubrics for Assessing Competencies • 1. Knowledge of Field • Demonstrates knowledge of public administration concepts, principles & theories • 2. Analytic Ability • Demonstrates the ability to analyze information about the public sector and to apply appropriate public administration concepts, principles & theories • Effective Communication • Demonstrates the ability to format and structure assignments with writing that is clear, concise, and properly edited
Time Line: Universal Competencies • Oct 2010 Accreditation Institute • Nov 2010 Assessment Committee appointed (Hale, Chair; Brown; Clark) • Dec 2010 Overview at faculty meeting • Nov-Feb Committee develops Assessment Plan • Feb 2011 Nucleus Faculty approves Plan • April 2012 Committee Assessment of Universal Competency #3 approved &submitted to NASPAA
Time Line: MPA Portfolio • Feb 2011 Overview of Portfolio approved • Nov 2011 Hale & Clark meet with students • Nov 2011 Faculty discuss student concerns • Jan 2012 Committee formulates proposal • Feb 2012 Faculty approve Portfolio structure • May 2012 Detailed assignment circulated to students • Oct 2012 Hale & Clark meet with students
Documents Available on Request • Competency-based Assessment System • Complete Plan • Competency Decision-Making • Summary of Development, including minutes from student & faculty meetings • Assessment of NASPAA Universal Competency 3 • Full Assessment Report • Competencies for Specializations • Plan for assessing Specialization Competenciesclarkcm@auburn.edu