Course Overview:
Effective programs, advising, and procedures are created with the help of quality data provided by assessment. Campus assessments can be student development focused or climate/environment focused, as well as involve a myriad of methodologies and data collection techniques. This course is an intensive review of the purposes of assessment and how they can be used effectively to improve campus programs, activities, and services.
Course Outline:
There will be three broad sections to this course: understanding the interactional perspective, designing educational environments (the largest), and community and involvement. Participants will be introduced to various theories and models from these areas and how they can be applied in higher education settings.
Learning Objectives:
During this course, participants will be able to:
- properly define assessment and distinguish it from other research and evaluation activities
- identify the various methods of assessment and what situations to use them in
- make connections to their institutional assessment resources
- develop an assessment plan for their functional area at their institution.
Participant Expectations:
Participants will be expected to purchase the book, Assessment in Student Affairs by John Schuh and Associates published by Jossey-Bass.
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This book will be the reader for the course and participants will be unable to make most effective use of the course without it. Also, participants will be expected to participate in online discussions and to turn in brief assignments related to the readings. Therefore, participants should be able to set aside between 5 to 10 hours a week to complete course readings, prepare assignments, and participate in the online discussions. Discussions will be held asynchronously to maximize the ability of all participants to be engaged. A final cumulative project will be required at the end of the course term.
Individuals registering for CEUs will receive 1.0 CEU upon successful
completion of the course.
Instructor Bio:
Dafina L. Stewart is an assistant professor of College Student Personnel and Higher Education at Ohio University. She completed her doctorate and master's degrees in Higher Education at The Ohio State University. She has experience in multicultural affairs and diversity issues in both the liberal arts and public university contexts, as well as in other aspects of student affairs administration. Dafina Stewart is also the author of publications nationally and internationally on issues ranging from her research on student development to diversity practices and the situation of women in research universities.
