Assessment Council

Office of Academic Quality established an interdisciplinary Assessment Council, which is composed of designated Assessment Coordinators from each academic department and service program. This position is considered a vital function within departments/programs.

Peer Review
Assessment Council convenes one to two times each semester to conduct a peer review of the full three-year learning assessment reports submitted by academic departments and service programs. The coordinators work in teams to analyze the assessment reports, provide feedback by completing the OAQ's learning assessment report rubric, and participate in an inquiry of the reports and their assessment work.

The coordinators also meet to discuss assessment-specific issues, share ideas and strategies, assist one another in the development, coordination, and successful application of departmental assessments of student learning. Best practices are usually identified and made available to the coordinators for their own assessment work.

 
Role of Assessment Coordinators
Assessment Coordinators provide leadership and support in the assessment of student learning and the use of learning assessment data for program improvement in their unit.
To do so, the Assessment Coordinator:

1. Develops and updates (in conjunction with Department Chair/Unit head, and faculty/ staff) the unit's plan for using program-level student learning assessment to improve the program:
   a. Engage unit colleagues in shared conversations about student learning and assessment, and the use of assessment data for program improvement.
   b. Lead the development and periodic review of unit outcomes.
   c. Lead the development and periodic review of unit curriculum and assessment activities matrices.
   d. Lead the development and implementation of direct and indirect assessment methods appropriate for the unit.
   e. Lead the collection of data about the program and student learning.
   f. Work with other faculty and staff to close the loop between what is found in the data and improving student learning.
2. Provide annual updates of progress and/or achievements (Learning Assessment Update) to the Senate curriculum councils, Dean, Provost and Office of Academic Quality.
3. Participate as a member of the Assessment Council (AC). Activities include:
   a. Functioning as a peer professional development group member with other Assessment Coordinators;
   b. Reviewing and providing feedback on annual Learning Assessment Updates and triennial Assessment Reports. 
4. Function as unit specialist in learning assessment by through professional development and use of resources.
5. Relaying to Unit Gallaudet University institutional requirements regarding learning assessment.

Council's Membership Roster: Fall 2012