Assessment
is a process of gathering and interpreting information to discover
if a program is meeting established goals and then using that information
to enhance the program.
Recent Initiatives
Survey resources and coordination
IAS has expanded its support and coordination of survey research
at the University and is developing an institutional survey
plan with the following objectives:
1) Reduce the number of surveys a typical student has to fill
out
2) Improve the quality of survey administration, data collection,
tabulation and reporting.
3) Provide coordination of institutional surveys.
4) Increase the use and usefulness of survey data institution-wide.
5) Provide a known structure and timeline for institutional surveys.
More
information about IAS’ survey consultation and hosting
Student learning outcomes
IAS coordinates outcomes assessment University-wide and provides
support to programs and schools as they plan and undertake assessments
to improve their program, especially teaching and learning.
More about student learning
outcomes assessment
University's Strategic Ten-year Plan
At the direction of the Board of Visitors, the University
has been developing a 10-year strategic plan to advance the
University’s
relative position in the higher education marketplace. The plan
has been in development for more than a year and is scheduled
to be finalized in February 2007.
Developing an overall assessment plan for the
academic portion of the 10-year plan is the responsibility of
the Vice President and Provost, in conjunction with the Office
of Institutional Assessment and Studies. The various sub units
that have submitted portions of the academic plan (e.g. the 10
schools) have responsibility for assessing their own plans’ progress,
as do non-academic units.
To read more about the plan, see the following agendas of the
Special Committee on Planning:
November
7, 2005
May
17, 2006
September 11, 2006
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(SACS) Reaffirmation
UVa is scheduled for off-site and on-site reviews by SACS in 2006-07. Universities
seeking reaffirmation must demonstrate "...ongoing, integrated, and institution-wide
research-based planning and evaluation processes..." (assessment) to achieve
full compliance under SACS' new accreditation standards. There are two pieces
to reaffirmation: 1) Compliance Certification and 2) a Quality Enhancement Plan
(QEP). The Compliance Certification was submitted in Fall 2006 and the QEP is
due
February
2007.
More about Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Reaffirmation
Ongoing Assessment Programs
Assessment is concerned especially with student learning both
in and outside of the classroom. The current University Assessment
Program consists primarily of the following components:
School and program level outcomes
assessment
Academic program
review
General education and
core competency assessment
National Survey
of Student Engagement
Alumni assessment
Assessment of AccessUVa
Assessment at the University of Virginia showcases the superior
quality of teaching and learning that occurs on-Grounds. A strong
research environment enhances the ability of UVa faculty to engage
the University’s highly capable students both inside and outside
the classroom. Assessing student learning outcomes will help UVa
maintain, publicize, and, most importantly, improve its unique learning
environment.
Assessment in higher education has been driven largely by external
forces—
federal and state agencies and legislative bodies, accrediting organizations,
and professional associations. While some of these stakeholders
are more
concerned with accountability, the primary purpose of assessment
is program improvement, most importantly in the areas of teaching
and learning. IAS supports other assessment efforts of academic
and student services' departments as well.
University Assessment conducts, supports, and coordinates research
to maintain and improve academic programs and student services.
The Assessment team implements and supports useful and feasible
assessment approaches in order to foster the University’s
unique learning and research environment. Our goals are to:
• Support assessment activities by providing relevant training
and feedback, and designing practical methods of measurement and
evaluation.
• Administer the University’s general education and
core competency assessments in an efficient manner to help faculty
and administrators improve student learning and development.
• Coordinate the development and implementation of school
and program assessment plans that define, measure, and evaluate
student learning goals and outcomes.
• Conduct surveys of academic and student services programs
that effectively meet client needs, and do not pose an undue burden
to the respondents.
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