Overview of Assessment
Assessment is “any effort to gather, analyze, and interpret evidence that describes institutional, divisional, or agency effectiveness” (Upcraft & Schuh, 1996, p. 18). We rely on assessment everyday to determine how we should move forward on a project, what we should do in a given situation, or how to make the most-informed decision possible.
Assessment helps us know what we are doing and how well we are doing it. It provides quantifiable information that allows us to improve the work we are doing.
Assessment efforts are often viewed as large-scale office, division, or institution-level undertakings that are designed to address campus-wide concerns around admission, retention, persistence, and graduation. However, in reality assessment takes place every time an advisor asks a student if they understand the GE requirements or when a financial aid staff member checks to make sure a student knows the FAFSA deadline. These small-scale assessment efforts occur everyday for most Student Affairs employees, but because they are an organic part of job duties, we do not often associate them with the idea of assessment.
Purpose of SAAO Website
Colleges today are asked to produce greater proof that they are providing quality educational experiences to their students. For example, there has been a growing need for Student Affairs to provide documentation that their areas also positively impact learning and student experiences. However, assessment may lead employees to feel overwhelmed by the idea of assessment and are looking for examples of best practices in this area as well as assistance.
This website has been created to make the assessment process for Student Affairs staff easier, consistent, and concise.
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