the student services assessment institute (ssai): creating a culture of assessment through...
TRANSCRIPT
The Student Services Assessment Institute (SSAI): Creating a Culture of
Assessment through Professional Development
Kim Black, Ph.D.
Stephanie Torrez, M.A.
University of Northern Colorado
Workshop Goals Workshop Goals
• Introduce Student Services Assessment Institute (SSAI)
• Show how professional development model can be adapted to other institutions
• Provide tips, strategies, and resources
Workshop OutcomesWorkshop Outcomes
• Participants will be able to recognize institutional challenges and barriers to successful implementation as well as strengths that can be used to adapt the model to their campus.
• Participants will be able to identify essential components of effective professional development on assessment.
• Participants will develop a project outline for adapting the training model to their campus.
HistoryHistory
• Needs Assessment Self study and pilot study
• What do you know about how assessment is being used in student services on your campus?
• What information about how assessment is being used is missing, and how could you find it?
Student Services Assessment InstituteStudent Services Assessment Institute• Support from campus leadership
FinancialCollaboration
• Research and best practicesCohort model (Joyce & Showers, 1996)Hands-on participatory learning (Milstein & Krueger,
1997)
• Curriculum design (Green, Jones, & Pascarell, 2003)
SSAI ModelSSAI Model
• Monthly 2-hour workshopsTopics range from developing outcomes to
understanding survey methods
• Instruction• In-house faculty and staff expertise
• Assessment projects• Hands-on, supervisor approved
SSAI Model (cont.)SSAI Model (cont.)
• Individual consultationsProvided by assessment staff
• Communication with supervisorsFace-to-face and via email
• Videotaped sessionsCDs available for each session
Institutional ChallengesInstitutional Challenges
Budget
Organizational structure
Small assessment staff
Limited use and application of assessment
Institutional StrengthsInstitutional Strengths
Assessment and professional development offices
Understanding of campus needs Support from leadershipIn-house expertisePartnershipsPassion for doing right by students
Small Group DiscussionSmall Group Discussion
• What are some of the challenges you might encounter at your institution?
• What are institutional strengths you can capitalize on?
Take 10
Essential Components • Curriculum & Pedagogy
Curricular Model
Program Delivery
Experiential Learning
Celebration & Recognition
• Program LogisticsCohort
Collaboration
Institutional Support
Structure
Budget
Take 10
SSAI CurriculumSSAI Curriculum
• Practical, applied knowledge
• Organized around 4 questionsWhat do we need to know?Why does it matter (the so what)?Where can we find support?How do we apply what we learned?
Sample WorkshopsSample Workshops
• Workshop 1: Assessment Data: Collection, Interpretation, Utilization, and Dissemination
• Workshop 2: Data-Driven Decision Making
Assessment DataAssessment Data
• What do we need to know?Types of data availableDemystifying use of dataWhen to use existing data and when to collect
new dataHow to decide what collection method to use
Assessment Data (cont.)Assessment Data (cont.)
• Why does it matter?Garbage in, garbage out – good data is
essentialMake it count – limited resources for
collecting and analyzing dataMake your case – good data leads to good
decision making for budgets, program sustainability, and student outcomes
Assessment Data (cont.)Assessment Data (cont.)
• Where can we find support?Departmental resources (work study students,
graduate assistants, in-house experts)Institutional resources (institutional research,
faculty experts, assessment staff)External resources (research literature,
professional associations)
Assessment Data (cont.)Assessment Data (cont.)
• How do we apply what we learned?Exploring the data universe (individual and
group activity)Solving sample assessment questions (group
activity)• Example – Why are participation rates in
previously high-demand activities lower this year?
Data-Driven Decision MakingData-Driven Decision Making
• What do we need to know?Types of data availableWhat people know/don’t know Opportunities for sharing dataStrategies for making data meaningful
Data-Driven Decision Making (cont.)Data-Driven Decision Making (cont.)
• Why does it matter?Increases confidence in practiceExpands perspective Informs big decision making/daily practiceExpands opportunities for collaborationPromotes opportunities to discover the ‘so
what?’Strategic planning
Data-Driven Decision Making (cont.)Data-Driven Decision Making (cont.)
• Where can we find support?Reporting unitsInstitutional ResearchInstitutional dataOther units on campusNational School Reform FacultyBook: A Facilitator’s Book of Questions, by
David Allen & Tina Blyth
Data-Driven Decision Making (cont.)Data-Driven Decision Making (cont.)
• How do we apply what we learned?Data Driven Dialogue
• An activity that is valuable for making meaning of a large set of data. Need more than an hour to complete.
Nugget Exercise• An activity that uses sound bites of data to introduce the
participants to reflective dialogue about the data.
• Can be used during staff meetings as an opening or closing
activity.
Workshop Session IdeasWorkshop Session Ideas
• Based on your campus needs and the characteristics of your cohort, what are some potential workshop topics you might consider?
• Who on your campus could develop and deliver training on these topics?
Assessing the SSAIAssessing the SSAI
• Document analysisAssessment projects
• Participant focus group
• Supervisor interviews
• Program evaluations
• Observations
How will you assess your How will you assess your training program?training program?
Future DirectionsFuture Directions
• Where UNC is going from hereAdd new cohorts to attain critical massIntroduce program review to student services
programsPosition UNC for next regional accreditation
Contact Us
Kim Black, Ph.D.
Director of Assessment
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, Colorado 80639
(970) 351-1102
Stephanie Torrez, M.A.
Executive Director, Academic Support and Advising
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, Colorado 80639
(970) 351-2812