Points about Assessment Focus Visit:

Definition of Assessment:

Continuous improvement of and commitment to student learning through clear statements of student learning outcomes, explicit measures of those outcomes, established criteria for success, and methods for how the results will be used to improve the program and make changes to increase student learning

Assessment of student learning at Tech is based on Student Learning Outcomes (see attached student learning outcomes for programs at Ozark)

Most important feature of assessment is closing the loop, or using results to make improvements and decisions

Changes made at Tech as a result:

Hiring of Director of Institutional Research and Assessment Focus on retaining students, especially after the first year Restructuring of Assessment Committee Ongoing departmental and program assessments of student learning Implementation of a planning and reporting cycle Mini-grants awarded to faculty and staff for assessment projects

Assessment Committee at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus

Members: Pat McCreary, Stan Hatcher, Kathy Shaffer, Debra Wofford, Eva Spurgin, Jo Blondin (chair)

Primary Goal: Educate ourselves first and involve faculty and staff beginning in Fall 04

Process at Ozark:

Selection of Committee Educational Meetings for Committee Presentation/Workshop for ATU-Ozark faculty on HLC/North Central Syllabi workshop and identification of program outcomes Explanation of and exercise on the Levels of implementation Curriculum review and alignment with ATU faculty Identification of criteria for success and multiple measures Reporting cycle aligned with ATU-Russellville

Statement of Assessment in Tech Catalogue:

Assessment is conducted university-wide to measure student progress toward educational goals, to improve teaching and learning, and to evaluate institutional effectiveness.