Assessment Activities | St. Ambrose University

Assessment

The primary purposes of assessment are to determine whether St. Ambrose University is currently meeting its goals and objectives for teaching and learning, and to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the future.

At times, students will be asked to participate in the assessment process by completing specialized assessment activities. These assessment activities can be completed in a variety of settings (such as the classroom, at home, or at a testing center) as well as in a variety of ways (such as online, paper-and-pencil, in small or large groups) depending upon the activity. All students, regardless of class level or enrollment status, are asked to assist with this important process. (Approved by the St. Ambrose University Educational Policies Committee Fall 2002)

As you are determining how you are going to assess and evaluate the activities of your department, ask yourself the following central question and let it guide you.

HOW DOES WHAT WE DO ENABLE OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN/SUCCEED NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, AND HOW CAN WE DO IT BETTER?

If you can answer the five following questions (adapted from Priddy, 2006, Annual Meeting of the Higher Learning Commission), you are engaged in meaningful assessment that is focused on the ultimate prize - student learning. The rest will be easy.

1. How are our stated student learning outcomes appropriate to our mission, programs, degrees, and students?
2. What evidence do we have that students achieve our stated student learning outcomes?
3. In what ways do we analyze and use evidence of student learning?
4. How do we ensure shared responsibility for student learning and assessment of student learning?
5. How do we evaluate and improve our efforts to assess and improve student learning?

Finally, ask yourself how we are informing our various publics, both on and off campus, about what and how well our students are learning.

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"Honest teachers will not walk away from something that will help their students learn." (Teagle Foundation 2005 Annual Report, http://www.teaglefoundation.org/ar05/flash.html)
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The Mission Is What It Is All About!
St. Ambrose University Mission Statement, Core Values and Guiding Principles

Institutional Assessment and Evaluation Plans (the processes that we engage in to see how we are achieving our mission, student learning, and other outcomes)

Individual Departmental Assessment
and Evaluation Plans
Current Academic, Co-Curricular, and Administrative Departmental Assessment/Evaluation Plans and Program Reviews

Developing Assessment
and Evaluation Plans

Start by clicking here and asking yourself the questions! (If you can answer these questions you are doing meaningful assessment of student learning outcomes and evaluation of other outcomes; there are also rubrics for self-evaluating your progress on assessment and evaluation!)

A Common Vocabulary

Forms (pdf version)
Annual Assessment Update (due June 30; for use by individual university academic, administrative, and co-curricular departments)

Reports (you will find the results of multiple instruments that we use to examine how well we are achieving our student learning and other outcomes)

Additional Resources (you will find additional resources that will help you with your assessment and evaluation activities)

Academic Support Committee (This committee consults with multiple administrative and co-curricular offices that are involved in supporting our students)

For more information on assessment activities at St. Ambrose, please contact Paul Koch or Brad Thiessen. Both Paul and Brad are available to academic departments and administrative units for assistance with assessment activities.

Dr. Paul Koch, Associate Vice President for Assessment and Institutional Research at 563/333-6196 or KochPaulC@sau.edu.

Mr. Brad Thiessen, Assessment Coordinator and Mathematics Instructor, at 563/333-6160 or ThiessenBradleyA@sau.edu.

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