Assessment

Assessment Leaders

Role of an Assessment Leader

- All faculty and instructors share in the collective program assessment responsibility, which includes articulating program learning objectives, designing assessment studies, collecting and interpreting assessment evidence, developing action plans and determining the impact of those action plans. The Assessment Leader oversees the program’s assessment and serves as its assessment point person for the program faculty, the unit’s leadership, and OPAIR. In this way, the Assessment Leader plays a critical role by leading program-wide assessment discussions and serving as the program’s assessment advocate.
- Each program must have at least one engaged Assessment Leader so that the assessment process is effective and efficient. The benefits of having an assessment point person include a streamlined assessment process as the Assessment Leader is responsible for knowing the assessment process, sharing information and updates with program faculty, and completing their program’s annual assessment report.
- Assessment Leaders are the primary point of contact for OPAIR communications and support related to Penn State’s assessment process.

- A program’s Assessment Leader is most often a faculty member, but in some units professional staff serve in this capacity. Each program designates at least one Assessment Leader. One individual can serve as the Assessment Leader for multiple programs or programs may designate multiple Assessment Leaders that share the responsibility.

- When an Assessment Leader is most engaged with program assessment will vary by program. For instance, some programs collect evidence of student learning throughout the year while other programs only gather evidence during a given semester. In general, the Assessment Leader guides assessment-related discussions with program faculty when it makes the most sense for the program. Often program faculty come together when the academic year begins. Many programs find that to be a fortuitous time to take stock of the prior year’s findings and make sure that, in response to those findings, an action plan is implemented.
- Regardless of when programs collect their evidence or address findings, annual assessment reports are due each year on June 30. Report feedback is returned to programs in the following fall semester. Throughout the year Assessment Liaisons reach out to Assessment Leaders with important announcements and assessment development opportunities including workshops. Assessment Leaders are strongly encouraged to share these announcements with their colleagues. Training is also offered for Nuventive, an online assessment management software that supports University-wide program assessment. Assessment Liaisons are available to answer questions year-round.

- How long a faculty member serves as an Assessment Leader depends on numerous factors including program need and faculty size, among other reasons. Our office recommends that each Assessment Leader, if possible, serve in the role for at least two years as stability in the position encourages consistency in program assessment. When an Assessment Leader’s term ends, reach out to assessment@psu.edu and let OPAIR know of the leadership change. Always having an Assessment Leader in place is one of the most crucial steps toward the continual improvement of the program!

- Faculty and instructors support their program and students, and in turn the program’s Assessment Leader, in several ways. The most important action program faculty and instructors should take is to make sure assessment is an integral part of their teaching and ongoing work. For instance, faculty and instructors should work together to articulate a set of program learning objectives and then ensure the content of the courses they teach and the experiences they oversee (e.g., internship, fieldwork, practicums) align with those objectives. Assessment findings and subsequent action planning discussions should be a regular part of faculty meetings.