Best Practices

Integrating Student Learning Assessment with University Strategic Planning

Conducted by: Jackie Snell & Rona Halualani

Abstract
Early stages of developing a university system to assess student learning outcomes are often largely driven by accreditation demands. Assessment can become a sustainable process, part of ongoing strategic planning and continuous improvement instead of a workload issue every few years when accrediting agencies come around. University-wide strategic plans demonstrate the priorities of the institution. For faculty to become fully involved in assessment of student learning they must believe that top administrators are equally committed and that reporting makes a difference.

Audience

faculty and administrators who are involved in strategic planning and/OR involved in addressing faculty involvement in student learning assessment.

Learning Outcomes

at the end of the session participants will be able to identify:
• The benefits of integrating student learning assessment with strategic planning
• Current campus practices that help to integrate assessment of student learning with campus strategic planning
• Opportunities for more closely integrating assessment of student learning with campus strategic planning.
 

Biographies

Jackie Snell became Director of Assessment at San Jose State University in fall 2007 after serving one year as Coordinator of Assessment. She has been a Professor in the Marketing Department since 1990. Her research interest is in behavior decision making.