Engaging Faculty and Administrators in the Assessment Process at a Engaging Faculty and Administrators in the Assessment Process at a Distance Learning Institution

15th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning | Orlando, FL | October 2009

• Introductions

• APUS Mission and Demographics

• Promote accountability among faculty and

administratorsadministrators

• Inform internal and external stakeholders

on the achievement of student learning

outcomes

• Assessment and retention as a system

I t t d t i t d i i • Incorporate assessment data into decision

making processes

• Conclusion and dialogue

Frank McCluskey, Ph.D.Executive Vice President and

Provost

Jennifer Stephens Helm, Ph.D.Associate Vice-President Dean of Associate Vice-President, Dean of

Assessment

Dave BecherDirector, Academic Information

Analysis

Chad Patrizi ABDChad Patrizi, ABDDean of Business Administration

To educate the nation's military and public service communities and public service communities by providing respected, relevant,affordable, and student-focusedonline programs which prepare them for service and leadership them for service and leadership in a diverse, global society.

• Founded in 1991 as American MilitaryUniversity to provide affordable and convenient distance learning to service gmembers

• In 2002, expanded reach to national security,public safety and other professionals seeking affordable education and online convenience affordable education and online convenience, establishing American Public University System with member institutions: American Military University and American Public University

• We are a 100% online for-profit school that serves 53,000+ students who study online from 100 countries.

Promote Accountability among Faculty and Administrators

M t b

Yearly Goals Tied to Metrics

Survey data

Continuous Review of Data

Program Review Process

P i • Management by Objectives

• Survey data

• Other indirect measures of assessment

• Program review committee

• Action plan for continuous improvement

External  ReviewExternal  Review

Data Collection

Data Collection

AnalysisAnalysisFollow‐UpFollow‐Up

Program ReviewMeeting

Program ReviewMeeting

Three Year Plan

Three Year Plan

Electronic Repository of Information

Library and Learning Resources

Curriculum Assessment

External Reviewer Feedback

• Course books

• Electronic resources

• Learning strategies

• Student learning outcomes

• Instructional strategies

• Evaluation procedures

• Expert reviewer report

• Industry Advisory Council report

• Evaluation procedures

• Academic rigor

Electronic Repository of Information

A l i f f lt

Faculty

• Student demographic

Students

C i l M i

Learning Outcomes Assessment

• Analysis of facultycredentials andexpertise to ensurebreadth and diversity

• Student demographicinformation

• Enrollment History

• Growth trends

• Curricular Mapping

• Assessment measures

• Fact book

Electronic Repository of Information

Program Benchmarking

Program Directory Summary

Program Review Findings

• Program benchmarkingwith similar programsand institutions

• Evaluation of findings

• Programrecommendations

• Three year proposed

• Dean’s observations

• Meeting minutes

• Three year proposedstrategic plan

Dave – insert slidesDave  insert slides

Inform Internal and External Stakeholders on the Achievement of Student Learning Outcomes

Transparency by Design

Learning Outcomes Assessment Website

Internal Communications

• Charter member• College Choices for Adultsprograms

• Approximately 7000 hits per month

• Assessment initiatives, assessment resources

• Meetings

• Faculty, staff, and student newsletters

Faculty and student programs• Website assists adult learner in making informed decisions about distance

assessment resources for faculty, student learning outcomes, program level learning outcome assessments

• Faculty and student lounges

about distance education http://www.collegechoicesforadults.org/

outcome assessments results http://www.apus.edu/learning-outcomes-assessments/assessments/

Assessment and Retention as a Systemy

• Regular dissemination of data to stakeholdersRegular dissemination of data to stakeholders• Reciprocal relationship between data team and

Deans• Assessment feedback loop• Assessment feedback loop

Incorporate Assessment Data into Decision Making

Processes - Examples

General Education Program

Business Program Criminal Justice Program

Processes Examples

• Math and science curriculum

• Accounting course • Corrections course

Frank McCluskey Ph DFrank McCluskey, Ph.D.fmmcluskey@apus.edu

Executive Vice President and Provost

J if St h Ph DJennifer Stephens, Ph.D.jstephens@apus.edu

Associate Vice-President, Dean of Assessment

Dave Becherdbecher@apus.edu

Director, Academic Information Analyst