There will be two HEDS sponsored sessions at the IUPUI Assessment Institute which will be October 21-23, 2018, at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. The HEDS sessions are designed specifically for small institutions and presenters from six HEDS institutions will lead the two panels:
Building Effective Assessment at Small Institutions
Presenters: Amanda Udis-Kessler (Colorado College), David A. Eubanks (Furman University), and Bethany Miller (Cornell College)
Tuesday, October 23, 2018 from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
This panel brings together assessment practitioners from three small institutions to discuss specific assessment efforts at their institutions that have been effective. Topics include: a highly customized, faculty-driven departmental assessment program at Colorado College; how to generate a large quantity of SLO data quickly while increasing faculty engagement from Furman University; and using multiple sources of data to bolster assessment when working with a small sample from Cornell College.
Effective Survey Use for Improving Student Learning and Experience at Small Institutions
Presenters: Carolyn Uhl and Raymond M. Zurawski (St. Norbert College), Lindsey Guinn (Washington & Jefferson College), and Edith Pfeifer List (Principia College)
Monday, October 22, 2018 from 3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
This panel highlights the use of survey data for improving student learning and experiences at small institutions. Specifically, panelists will discuss: using Tableau to create interactive data visualizations of survey data that can be examined over time, at various academic levels, and across demographics from St. Norbert College; using results from the HEDS Sexual Assault Campus Climate Survey to make significant changes to policy and procedure at Washington & Jefferson College; and using longitudinal data from the HEDS Research Practices Survey to improve information literacy and research skill development within the freshman program and across the curriculum at Principia College.
In addition, Charlie Blaich and Kathy Wise, along with Teagle Assessment Scholars Cynthia Crimmins and Mandy Moore, will be leading a preconference workshop, Assessment as Leadership for Change. The workshop is Sunday, October 21st from 9:00 a.m. – noon.
Using assessment for improving student learning requires more than gathering and working with evidence. It requires leaders who are change agents and willing to work collaboratively with colleagues to make sense of and develop responses to assessment evidence in our institutions’ messy, busy, and increasingly resource-constrained environments. Using assessment evidence to improve student learning also requires effective leadership skills to set goals, plan, and implement projects. This workshop will focus on helping participants understand and develop leadership skills and practices to mobilize assessment efforts to improve student learning.