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Session Goals:To redefine assessment as it relates to our University mission.

To visit assessment plan/report templates and ensure understanding for annual completion.

To understand submission processes of annual assessment plans and reports.2

AgendaAll About JSUAssessment-Definitions and ImportanceAssessment ProcessAnnual Assessment Plan/Report TemplatesComponents (when and why?)When and how to submit? Question and Answer Session

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JSU Mission and VisionVISION: Jackson State University is to be a model urban learning community for highly motivated students from diverse backgrounds, where original research and experiential learning are integrated into rigorous and internationally prominent teaching, research and service-learning programs.

MISSION:The University produces technologically-advanced, diverse, ethical, global leaders who think critically, address societal problems, and compete effectively.

Our JSU vision and mission statement. How are we going to assess whether or not we are working toward the vision and mission?4

University PrioritiesPriority 1: Review and restructure academic programs and budgets.

Priority 2: Accelerate the integration of technology throughout the institution.

Priority 3: Improve management and increase the size of JSUs available resources.

Priority 4: Enhance the image of JSU.

Priority 5: Create a model learning and working environment for the entire JSU Family.

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Super Goals1: JSU will provide quality instruction to ensure our students are prepared for the 21st century for work, graduate, and professional schools.

2: JSU will create a marketing plan to increase presence in the Jackson Metro area, the state, the region as well as nationally and globally. Through this plan, we will communicate our mission and goals to our stakeholders.

3: JSU will improve its organizational efficiency for administration, faculty, and students. (Redesign the way we do business)

4: JSU will make strategic investments in people to ensure they achieve their best work.

5: JSU will grow the alumni donor base. (Diversification of Resources)

Assessment GoalGoal To maintain a culture of assessment at Jackson State University in both academic and non-academic areas whereby improvements in organizational efficiency is observed for administration, faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders. Our culture as pertains to assessment should be one in which assessment is valued, expected, and occurs. It should be one in which continuous efforts and commitments exist whereby improvements result in ones own performances thus impacting the ultimate success of the organization.Everything we do, every action we take aligned with our University vision and mission.7

What is Assessment?Assessment is defined as an ongoing process aimed at understanding and improving student learning. It involves making our expectations explicit and public; setting appropriate criteria and high standards for learning quality; systematically gathering, analyzing, and interpreting evidence to determine how well performance matches expectations and standards; and using the resulting information to document, explain, and improve performance. (Thomas A. Angelo, AAHE Bulletin, November 1995, p.7)Assessment is not a one time affair. It is continuous and has as its goal program/unit efficiency. Do all stakeholders know and understand the expectations? What evidence exists that supports the notion that we are meeting the expectations/program standards? What are we going to do with the assessment results? Where are our deficiencies? How can we best address them? What improvements need to be made now? Later? What needs to be added, changed, or deleted? Do our assessment results lead to improvements in efficiency within our program unit?8

Why is Assessment Important?Goal Attainment Decision MakingAccountabilityAccreditationSACS 3.3 Institutional Effectiveness(The Institution identifies expected outcomes, assesses the extent to which it achieves these outcomes, and provides evidence of improvement based on analysis of the results.Improvement in ServiceSTUDENT LEARNINGCompliance Certification IndexComprehensive StandardsAreas are 3.3.1.1educational programs, to include student learning outcomes3.3.1.2administrative educational supports3.3.1.3educational support services3.3.1.4research within its educational mission, if appropriate3.3.1.5community/public service within its educational mission, if appropriate9

Accreditation and Institutional EffectivenessAccording to SACSCOC Philosophy:

The Commission on Colleges expects institutions to dedicate themselves to enhancing the quality of their programs and services within the context of their resources and capacities and to create an environment in which teaching, public service, research, and learning occur, as appropriate to the mission. At the heart of the Commissions philosophy of accreditation, the concept of quality enhancement presumes each member institution be engaged in an ongoing program of improvement and be able to demonstrate how well it fulfills its stated mission. Although evaluation of an institutions educational quality and its effectiveness in achieving its mission is a difficult task requiring careful analysis and professional judgment, an institution is expected to document the quality and effectiveness of all its programs and services.

Source: The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, p.2)This slide is included to add further emphasis.Make sure to highlight the last underlined statement.10

Assessment ProcessPlanning and ReportingAssessment and the use of assessment results to improve efficiency.

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Assessment Planning(Step-By-Step Approach)Step 1 Describe the academic/non- academic program or unit.Step 2 Define departmental mission.Step 3 Define outcomes or goals.Step 4 Identify and describe your means of assessment.Step 5 Establish your criteria for success. Distribute the templates for completion.Step 1demographic information pertaining to your department and/or program. It will also include completion of the cover page.Step 2state the mission of your department. What are the values and philosophy of the department?Should be aligned with the universitys mission.

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Defining Goals and OutcomesGOALSGoalsBroad statements of meaningful expectations, achievable, assessable, and consistent with mission. ObjectivesBrief, clear statements of outcomes, measurable, realistic, achievable, consistent with the goals.Worded in terms of what the unit will accomplish or what its clients would think, know, or do following the provision of services.Student Learning OUTCOMES (SLOs) Expected (student learning) outcomes are descriptions of what you intend for students to think (affective), know (cognitive), or do (behavior) when they have completed the degree program. These outcomes should be written to reflect results.For both academic and non-academic areas, select three to five specific measureable outcomes.Verbiage-use of action words and written in the future tense.

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Means of AssessmentAssessment MeasuresHow will the success of the outcome be measured?Multiple Measures2 per objectiveUse methods that evaluate more than one objective.Direct Measures (portfolios, papers, projects, internships, performances, standardized tests)Indirect Measures (surveys, focus groups, interviews, etc.)14

Criteria for SuccessSuccess CriteriaStandards of SuccessDefine your goals and targets to reach for each goal.Include dates for which objectives will be reachedWritten in anticipation of desired results15

Assessment Reporting(Step-by-Step Approach)Step 1 Data Collection/ResultsStep 2 Use of the Results to Improve Instructional Programs and Services

Other Components:Major DifficultiesGoals for next fiscal year based on resultsNon-academic areas-Complete priorities (listing only those supported by your unit.)To be completed and submitted at the end of the year. Verbiage is past tense.16

Data Collection/ResultsDescribe the process used to analyze and summarize results.

Document your results!Does the data fail to meet, meets, or exceeds the criterion for success?

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Use of the Results to Improve Instructional Programs and ServicesData Results should indicate steps to improve or revise assessment processes.Results > Criteria for SuccessRevise the assessment process to increase success criteria or assessing another outcome/aspect of outcome may be necessary.Results < Criteria for SuccessSpecific improvements are necessary.Most importantreference participants back to the SACS accredition materials.18

Submission and ReviewAnnual Plans FY15 - July 15, 2014 (Upload-via website)Peer Review of Assessment Plans - September 2014Academic/Non-Academic Units Feedback - January 2015Annual Reports FY15 July 1, 2015 (Upload-via website)Peer Review of Assessment Plans FY16/Assessment Reports FY15 - September/October/November 2015Draw attention to the rubric for academic and non-academic areas. Listing of committee members.Assessment plans/reports will be reviewed by at least two committee members using the standardized rubric. Committee members will be asked to record data results in qualtrics as survey data managed by OIRPE-McClung. Show demonstration of how to upload the assessment plans and resports.19

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