Ohio University

Division Assessment

"Assessment in higher education primarily responds to two forces: external demands for accountability and internal commitments to improvement" (Keeling et al., 2008, p.1)

There is an old adage that "a picture is worth a thousand words."  This is probably due to the fact that so many of us are visual learners and the process of doing something is easier to understand when the concept is visually presented.  Flow charting provides that visual concept and is used extensively by computer programmers dealing with complex processes.  My recent work with the Career and Leadership Development Center in helping to clarify learning outcomes and assessment systems resulted in the development of this assessment cycle flowchart.  

 The following are helpful resources:

NASPA Student Affairs Assessment Websites;

Defining assessment, the whys associated with what we do;

Developing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The link between assessment and accountability;

Contributions by Division of Student Affairs to student learning;

Benchmarking: Assessing where the Division is in relationship to its' peers;

Clarifying the difference between efficiency and effectiveness;

Measuring participation, satisfaction, connecting, learning, and support;

Current and future assessment efforts.

Departmental Assessment

Campus Involvement Center

Campus Recreation

Career Services

Community Standards

Counseling and Psychological Services

Event Services

Office of the Dean of Students

Residential Housing

Tools for Assessment

ACPA Assessment, Skills and Knowledge (ASK): Content standards for student affairs practioners. 

Learning Reconsidered (2004): Measuring outcomes grid from NASPA & ACPA, Washington DC

Resources for Assessment: 

Association of American Colleges and Universities (2009).  Assessing learning outcomes: Lessons from AAC&Us VALUE project. Peer Review, v11(1).  

Banta, T. (1997) Enabling conditions and stumbling blocks.  New Directions for Higher Education, no. 100, Winter. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass  

Bresciani, M.J., Gardner, M.M., and Hickmott, J. (2009). Demonstrating student success: A practical guide to outcomes-based assessment of learning and development in student affairs. Sterling, VA; Sylus Publishing

Bresciani, M.J. (2006). Outcomes based academic and co-curricular program review: A compilation of institutional good practices.  Sterling VA: Stylus Publishing. 

Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (2009). Council for the advancement of standards learning and developmental outcomes.  Washington, DC

Keeling, R.P., Wall, A.F., Underhile, R. and Dungy, G.J.  (2008).  Assessment reconsidered: Institutional effectiveness for student success.  International Center for Student Success and Institutional Accountability (ICSSIA).

Middaugh, M.F. (2010). Planning and assessment in higher education: Demonstrating institutional effectiveness.  San Francisco; Jossey Bass

National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (2012). Welcome to NILOA. 

Schuh, J.H. (2009).  Assessment methods for student affairs.  San Francisco; Jossey-Bass.

Upcraft, M.L. and Schuh, J.H. (1996). Assessment in student affairs: A guide for practitioners.  San Francisco; Jossey-Bass.