Program Assessment and Evaluation
With accountability and productivity at the forefront, and an intense emphasis on outcomes and impact, colleges and universities are challenged as never before to engage in continuous assessment and evaluation. Institutional reporting systems, reviews of programs and services, and evaluations of special projects all require the development of assessment processes and evaluative systems that document results and detail impact. Experience with multiple forms of assessment and evaluation is essential to produce informative results.
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Key Features
Our approach to assessment and evaluation draws on over thirty years of experience in higher education and relate to three key elements of program review: process, product and impact. By integrating numerical data with educational observation and professional insight, our reviews seek comprehensive answers to the key questions underlying the evaluation.
Familiar with assessment strategies embedded in the teaching-learning process, we support faculty and staff in the identification of intended outcomes and the development of measures of student learning. Experienced with action research methods, we collaborate with program managers on the design of measures of student success. And practiced in the implementation of quasi-experimental evaluations, we assist project directors with the articulation of measures of institutional effectiveness.
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Process
Evaluative consultation begins with an overall assessment of the nature and scope of the program under investigation followed by the articulation of key evaluative questions. Given this context, a series of evaluation strategies are examined and discussed, allowing for the collaborative development of the evaluation process with the key stakeholders. As the assessment is initiated, ongoing review allows for tactical changes in the evaluation process itself so that particularly interesting findings can be scrutinized more closely. With the review completed, a comprehensive cumulative report is prepared with recommendations and suggestions for continued refinement to maximize impact.
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Outcomes
Consultation on assessment and evaluation results in substantial improvements in programs, services, and projects characterized by:
· Increased investment in continuous assessment and evaluation
· Improved programmatic impact
· Increased institutional commitment
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