Assessment, Research, & Evaluation
“The Assessment, Evaluation, and Research competency area focuses on the ability to design, conduct, critique, and use various AER methodologies and the results obtained from them to utilize AER processes, and their results to inform practice, and to shape the political and ethical climate surrounding AER processes and uses in higher education” (ACPA & NASPA, 2015, p. 13).
Assessment, research, and evaluation are integral to helping us understand the ever-changing student population in higher education. We can understand what works and what does not work for students and the institution through well-conducted assessments, research, and evaluations. Many higher education practitioners may feel intimidated by assessment and mention that it is “above my pay” but need to understand that it should not be intimidating at all. When providing constructive criticism, it should be taken as a springboard for growth and insight in place of negative criticism or disapproval of one’s character or work. As a result, assessment, research, and evaluation are essential to the creation of effective programs and support systems for students in higher education.
Assessment, research, and evaluation are integral to helping us understand the ever-changing student population in higher education. We can understand what works and what does not work for students and the institution through well-conducted assessments, research, and evaluations. Many higher education practitioners may feel intimidated by assessment and mention that it is “above my pay” but need to understand that it should not be intimidating at all. When providing constructive criticism, it should be taken as a springboard for growth and insight in place of negative criticism or disapproval of one’s character or work. As a result, assessment, research, and evaluation are essential to the creation of effective programs and support systems for students in higher education.
Western Carolina University: Center for Career and Professional Development
I was a graduate assistant at the Center for Career and Professional Development during my two years of graduate school. I worked under the wing of the Associate Director of Career Integrated Learning. I have worked on many tasks that included assessment, research, and evaluation. The first example of this type of work would be the five-month-long project, the CCPD Student Worker Training. The module I created teaches undergraduate and graduate students who are peer mentors to conduct a variety of professional consultations. These included resumes, cover letters, personal statements, internship and job searching, and major and career exploration. First, I had to assess what kinds of modules peer mentors would most benefit from. Then I searched for multiple resources and created different activities for each module. Last, to make sure these modules were comprehensive, Colleagues and I assessed the modules for clarity of ininstructions and the appropriateness of the content
I was a graduate assistant at the Center for Career and Professional Development during my two years of graduate school. I worked under the wing of the Associate Director of Career Integrated Learning. I have worked on many tasks that included assessment, research, and evaluation. The first example of this type of work would be the five-month-long project, the CCPD Student Worker Training. The module I created teaches undergraduate and graduate students who are peer mentors to conduct a variety of professional consultations. These included resumes, cover letters, personal statements, internship and job searching, and major and career exploration. First, I had to assess what kinds of modules peer mentors would most benefit from. Then I searched for multiple resources and created different activities for each module. Last, to make sure these modules were comprehensive, Colleagues and I assessed the modules for clarity of ininstructions and the appropriateness of the content
Isothermal Community College: Student Center
As an intern at Isothermal Community College, I worked closely with the Dean of Students to assess and evaluate the college’s current commencement manual. This included reading a 55-page manual and finding ideas for improving and comprehensiveness of the manual’s language and content. I had produced a document illustrating ideas for change and questions regarding the accuracy of the instructions listed in the manual. This assessment project was vital for the institution and me because it was my first experience of formal evaluation. Many staff members are used to the commencement practices, and having a new intern add their ideas was received as extremely beneficial critical feedback for the institution. It will also help the institution put new ideas into practice from a third-party perspective. |
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Safe Zone Assessment Project
As a semester-long project for our second-year Program Assessment & Evaluation class, we carried out research on behalf of various campus partners on the Western Carolina University campus in support of the efforts of several departments to maintain regular assessment, research, and evaluation practice (Gulley, 2021). Within the framework of this project, my group decided to evaluate the Safe Zone training program offered by the Intercultural Affairs Service (ICA). This project entailed a regular meeting with the Assistant Manager to discuss the various assessment tools that the Safe Zone training program has already used. We collaborated and decided to use two instruments to gather past participants’ thoughts and ideas. The information we gathered helped us assess what participants have learned from this program and continue implementing it in their daily lives. |
Outcomes-Based Assessment Project Our Professionalism in Higher Education class prepared us to become effective practitioner-scholar professionals in higher education. The major semester project was our Outcomes-Bases Project (OBA). This project aimed to plan, implement/facilitate, evaluate, and assess a program or initiative on the Western Carolina campus. My project was to create a resumé writing workshop for first-year students seeking part-time work on campus or during the summer break. Given the COVID-19 restrictions that were still in place and an assessment of the current situation, I decided to make this workshop virtual through Zoom. As a result of being on Zoom, I believed that students could attend the workshop whether they were on-campus or from any other off-campus location. The attendance rate was more than acceptable, and I think it was because of the excellent marketing of this workshop. |
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Formal Research Poster
As a semester-long project, I was tasked with creating a research question and conducting a formal study approved by Citi Training, to present at the end of the semester. My study focused on discovering if there is a significant relationship between major and job attainment within the first year after graduation among Western Carolina University graduates. The study found no significant difference between major and job attainment. It also found that there is no significant relationship between gender and job attainment.
As a semester-long project, I was tasked with creating a research question and conducting a formal study approved by Citi Training, to present at the end of the semester. My study focused on discovering if there is a significant relationship between major and job attainment within the first year after graduation among Western Carolina University graduates. The study found no significant difference between major and job attainment. It also found that there is no significant relationship between gender and job attainment.
ACPA: College Student Educators International & NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (2015). Professional competency areas for student affairs educators. Washington, D.C.: Authors
Gulley, N.Y. (2021). EDHE (HESA) 650: Program assessment & evaluation course syllabus. Cullowhee, North Carolina: Western Carolina University.
Gulley, N.Y. (2021). EDHE (HESA) 650: Program assessment & evaluation course syllabus. Cullowhee, North Carolina: Western Carolina University.