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Empowering Student Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris County College of Morris July 13, 2007 July 13, 2007

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Page 1: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Empowering Student Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Services Staff to Become

Learning CenteredLearning Centered

Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D.Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D.

County College of MorrisCounty College of Morris

July 13, 2007July 13, 2007

Page 2: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Welcome, Introduction, and Welcome, Introduction, and Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

• The Need for Learning Centered AssessmentThe Need for Learning Centered Assessment

• History of Assessment at County College of MorrisHistory of Assessment at County College of Morris

• Bringing the Division of Student Development & Enrollment Management Bringing the Division of Student Development & Enrollment Management On BoardOn Board

• Identifying Student Learning Outcomes and Establishing a Divisional Identifying Student Learning Outcomes and Establishing a Divisional Outcomes Assessment PlanOutcomes Assessment Plan

• Implementation of Outcomes Assessment PlanImplementation of Outcomes Assessment Plan

• Empowering Others on Campus to Demonstrate Student LearningEmpowering Others on Campus to Demonstrate Student Learning

• Wrap-up and QuestionsWrap-up and Questions

Page 3: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

The Need for Learning Centered The Need for Learning Centered AssessmentAssessment

• Demonstrates that students have knowledge, skills, Demonstrates that students have knowledge, skills, and competencies consistent with institutional goals and competencies consistent with institutional goals and that students at graduation have achieved and that students at graduation have achieved appropriate higher education goals.appropriate higher education goals.

• Essential to help students improve and to monitor and Essential to help students improve and to monitor and maintain academic quality.maintain academic quality.

• Fit between what we expect our students to Fit between what we expect our students to understand and be able to do and what they actually understand and be able to do and what they actually demonstrate at points along their educational careers.demonstrate at points along their educational careers.

Page 4: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

The Need for Learning Centered The Need for Learning Centered Assessment (Cont’d)Assessment (Cont’d)

• Assists in reviewing and revising academic Assists in reviewing and revising academic programs and support services.programs and support services.

• Assists in planning, conducting, and supporting Assists in planning, conducting, and supporting professional development activities.professional development activities.

• Assists in planning and budgeting for the Assists in planning and budgeting for the

provision of academic programs and servicesprovision of academic programs and services

Page 5: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

History of Assessment at County History of Assessment at County College of Morris – Prior to the Last 6 College of Morris – Prior to the Last 6 YearsYears

• Academic Affairs OnlyAcademic Affairs Only

• Departmental Self-Study Process every 5 – 6 Departmental Self-Study Process every 5 – 6 YearsYears

• Quest for Division of Student DevelopmentQuest for Division of Student Development

• Pilot Project of Office of Career Services & Pilot Project of Office of Career Services & Cooperative EducationCooperative Education

Page 6: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

History of Assessment at CCM (Cont’d)History of Assessment at CCM (Cont’d)

• Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education StandardsStandards

– Standard 7 – Institutional AssessmentStandard 7 – Institutional Assessment• Evaluates institution’s overall effectiveness in achieving Evaluates institution’s overall effectiveness in achieving

stated mission and goals and assures that institutional stated mission and goals and assures that institutional processes and resources support appropriate learning and processes and resources support appropriate learning and other outcomes for students and graduates.other outcomes for students and graduates.

– Standard 14 – Assessment of Student LearningStandard 14 – Assessment of Student Learning• Demonstrates that students have knowledge, skills, and Demonstrates that students have knowledge, skills, and

competencies consistent with institutional goals and that competencies consistent with institutional goals and that students at graduation have achieved appropriate higher students at graduation have achieved appropriate higher education goals.education goals.

Page 7: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Bringing the Division of Student Bringing the Division of Student Development & Enrollment Development & Enrollment Management On BoardManagement On Board

• Linking student learning outcomes with Linking student learning outcomes with Middle States Standards of ExcellenceMiddle States Standards of Excellence

– Cognitive abilitiesCognitive abilities

– Content literacyContent literacy

– Competence in information managementCompetence in information management

– Value awareness Value awareness

Page 8: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Linkage with New Jersey Community Linkage with New Jersey Community College Academic Officers Association College Academic Officers Association General Education ObjectivesGeneral Education Objectives

• Diversity and global perspective: Students will analyze the implications of Diversity and global perspective: Students will analyze the implications of commonalities and differences among culturally diverse peoples.commonalities and differences among culturally diverse peoples.

• Ethical dimension: Students will recognize, analyze, and assess ethical Ethical dimension: Students will recognize, analyze, and assess ethical issues and situations.issues and situations.

• Oral and written communication: Students will communicate effectively in Oral and written communication: Students will communicate effectively in both speech and writing.both speech and writing.

• Technological competency: Students will use computer systems or other Technological competency: Students will use computer systems or other appropriate forms of technology to achieve educational and personal goals.appropriate forms of technology to achieve educational and personal goals.

• Society and human behavior: Students will use social science theories and Society and human behavior: Students will use social science theories and concepts to analyze human behavior and social and political institutions. concepts to analyze human behavior and social and political institutions.

Page 9: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Statewide initiative for establishing Statewide initiative for establishing student learning objectivesstudent learning objectives

• Students will demonstrate self-directed or independent learning by using Students will demonstrate self-directed or independent learning by using available resources to define and resolve problems.available resources to define and resolve problems.

• Students will demonstrate understanding of ethical, civic, and social Students will demonstrate understanding of ethical, civic, and social responsibility.responsibility.

• Students will understand and articulate the impact of diversity in our Students will understand and articulate the impact of diversity in our society.society.

• Students will use technology to access information, perform routine Students will use technology to access information, perform routine transactions, and communicate effectively.transactions, and communicate effectively.

• Students will demonstrate effective communication, critical thinking, and Students will demonstrate effective communication, critical thinking, and decision-making skills in analyzing information, presenting ideas, and decision-making skills in analyzing information, presenting ideas, and executing programs and activities.executing programs and activities.

Page 10: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Bringing the Division of Student Bringing the Division of Student Development & Enrollment Development & Enrollment Management On Board (Cont’d)Management On Board (Cont’d)• Career Services & Cooperative Education Career Services & Cooperative Education

professionals become divisional assessment expertsprofessionals become divisional assessment experts

• Assessment In-service TrainingAssessment In-service Training– 2002 Division-wide training2002 Division-wide training– 2004 Directors and Coordinators training2004 Directors and Coordinators training– 2004 Division-wide retraining2004 Division-wide retraining– 2005 Expanded division-wide training2005 Expanded division-wide training– 2006 Institutional departments training2006 Institutional departments training

• Individual departmental consultationsIndividual departmental consultations

Page 11: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Infusing student learning and Infusing student learning and outcomes assessment philosophy in all outcomes assessment philosophy in all we dowe do

• Conduct an analysis of programs and services provided by the Conduct an analysis of programs and services provided by the DivisionDivision

– Led staff to identify strengths of DivisionLed staff to identify strengths of Division– Exercise revealed that some work of Division was already oriented Exercise revealed that some work of Division was already oriented

toward student learning, especially leadership training and toward student learning, especially leadership training and development of self-understanding and self-confidencedevelopment of self-understanding and self-confidence

– Also identified number of areas where staff felt it was deficient and Also identified number of areas where staff felt it was deficient and that needed improvementthat needed improvement

• Vice President charged staff with responsibility to create series of Vice President charged staff with responsibility to create series of key documents at divisional level that articulated division’s intent key documents at divisional level that articulated division’s intent to place student learning at center of its workto place student learning at center of its work

– Mission statementsMission statements– Departmental objectivesDepartmental objectives– Intended learning outcomesIntended learning outcomes

Page 12: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Infusing student learning and Infusing student learning and outcomes assessment philosophy in all outcomes assessment philosophy in all we dowe do(Cont’d)(Cont’d)• After these documents drafted, critiqued, revised, and After these documents drafted, critiqued, revised, and

agreed upon by staff, each department asked to develop or agreed upon by staff, each department asked to develop or revise mission and objectives statements keeping in mind revise mission and objectives statements keeping in mind that each department’s mission statements and objectives that each department’s mission statements and objectives had to flow from division’s mission statement and broad had to flow from division’s mission statement and broad goals developed previouslygoals developed previously

• After training, staff was assigned to investigate kinds of After training, staff was assigned to investigate kinds of instruments available to assess fulfillment of mission, instruments available to assess fulfillment of mission, objectives, and learning outcomes of their departmentsobjectives, and learning outcomes of their departments

• Finally, staff requested to develop assessment plan to Finally, staff requested to develop assessment plan to measure effectiveness in fulfilling mission, objectives, and measure effectiveness in fulfilling mission, objectives, and intended learning outcomesintended learning outcomes

Page 13: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Infusing student learning and Infusing student learning and outcomes assessment philosophy in all outcomes assessment philosophy in all we dowe do(Cont’d)(Cont’d)• Because a focus on student learning requires that Because a focus on student learning requires that

staff be able to assess its impact on student staff be able to assess its impact on student learning, staff directed to complete an inventory learning, staff directed to complete an inventory of ongoing assessment activities in each of ongoing assessment activities in each departmentdepartment

– Revealed that while a number of assessment Revealed that while a number of assessment initiatives were taking place, many needed to initiatives were taking place, many needed to be more intentionally focused on student be more intentionally focused on student learninglearning

Page 14: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Developing framework of student Developing framework of student learning outcomes assessment planlearning outcomes assessment plan

• MissionMission– In just a few sentences a mission statement communicates the essence of the unit In just a few sentences a mission statement communicates the essence of the unit

to stakeholders and to the general public.to stakeholders and to the general public.

• ““The Division of Student Development & Enrollment Management is committed to providing The Division of Student Development & Enrollment Management is committed to providing comprehensive programs, services, and activities that complement the learning process, comprehensive programs, services, and activities that complement the learning process, encourage community identity, and maximize students’ abilities to realize their educational, encourage community identity, and maximize students’ abilities to realize their educational, career, and life goals.”career, and life goals.”

• ObjectivesObjectives– Broad, general statements of what the unit wants students to be able to do and to Broad, general statements of what the unit wants students to be able to do and to

know, or what the program will do to ensure what students will be able to do and to know, or what the program will do to ensure what students will be able to do and to know.know.

• Provide students with opportunities to develop their leadership skills.Provide students with opportunities to develop their leadership skills.• Educate in the areas of wellness and health promotion.Educate in the areas of wellness and health promotion.• Provide resources to help students assess and relate their interests, skill, education, and Provide resources to help students assess and relate their interests, skill, education, and

experience to possible careers.experience to possible careers.

• Programs and ServicesPrograms and Services– Actual accounting of what the unit does that evaluates its objectives.Actual accounting of what the unit does that evaluates its objectives.

Page 15: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Developing framework of student Developing framework of student learning outcomes assessment plan learning outcomes assessment plan (Cont’d)(Cont’d)• Intended OutcomesIntended Outcomes

– Outcomes are more detailed and specific statements derived Outcomes are more detailed and specific statements derived from the objectives that explain why a specific program or from the objectives that explain why a specific program or service is offered.service is offered.

– Outcomes are specifically about what the end result of a Outcomes are specifically about what the end result of a unit’s efforts are to be. They describe how a student unit’s efforts are to be. They describe how a student demonstrates what he/she knows or can do.demonstrates what he/she knows or can do.

• AssessmentAssessment

• Feedback and ChangeFeedback and Change

Page 16: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Implementation of Outcomes Implementation of Outcomes Assessment PlanAssessment Plan

• Developing Outcomes Assessment Plans for each Developing Outcomes Assessment Plans for each departmentdepartment

• Developing Implementation Plans for each Developing Implementation Plans for each department’s Assessment Plandepartment’s Assessment Plan

• Sample of Outcomes Assessment PlanSample of Outcomes Assessment Plan

Page 17: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Empowering Others on Campus to Empowering Others on Campus to Demonstrate Student LearningDemonstrate Student Learning

• Developing Outcomes Assessment TemplateDeveloping Outcomes Assessment Template

• Outcomes Assessment NotebooksOutcomes Assessment Notebooks

• Campus-wide trainingCampus-wide training

• Institutional Student Learning and Outcomes Assessment Institutional Student Learning and Outcomes Assessment Internal WebsiteInternal Website

• Continuous improvementContinuous improvement

Page 18: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

Wrap-up and QuestionsWrap-up and Questions

Page 19: Empowering Student Services Staff to Become Learning Centered Bette M. Simmons, Ed. D. County College of Morris July 13, 2007

ReferencesReferences

• Angelo, T. (1995). Angelo, T. (1995). Reassessing (and Defining) Assessment.Reassessing (and Defining) Assessment. The AAHE The AAHE Bulletin, 48 (2), pp. 7-9.Bulletin, 48 (2), pp. 7-9.

• Bresciani, M.J. (September 2002). Bresciani, M.J. (September 2002). The relationship between outcomes, The relationship between outcomes, measurement, and directions for continuous improvement.measurement, and directions for continuous improvement. National National Association for Student Personnel Administrators, Inc. NetResults E-Zine.Association for Student Personnel Administrators, Inc. NetResults E-Zine.

• Bresciani, M.J., Zelna, C.L., and Anderson, J.A. (2004). Bresciani, M.J., Zelna, C.L., and Anderson, J.A. (2004). Techniques for Techniques for Assessing Student Learning and Development in Academic Student Assessing Student Learning and Development in Academic Student Support Services. Support Services. Washington D.C.: NASPA.Washington D.C.: NASPA.

• Ewell, P.T. (2003). Ewell, P.T. (2003). Specific Roles of Assessment within this Larger Vision.Specific Roles of Assessment within this Larger Vision. Presentation given at the Assessment Institute at IUPUI. Indiana University Presentation given at the Assessment Institute at IUPUI. Indiana University – Purdue University, Indianapolis.– Purdue University, Indianapolis.

• Keeling, R.P., ed. (2006). Keeling, R.P., ed. (2006). Learning Reconsidered 2: Practical Guide to Learning Reconsidered 2: Practical Guide to Implementing a Campus-wide Focus on the Student Experience. Implementing a Campus-wide Focus on the Student Experience. Washington, D.C.: NASPA, Inc.Washington, D.C.: NASPA, Inc.

• Maki, P. (2001). Maki, P. (2001). Program review assessment.Program review assessment. Presentation to the Presentation to the Committee on Undergraduate Academic Review at NC State University.Committee on Undergraduate Academic Review at NC State University.

• Paloma, C. A. and Banta, T.W. (1999). Assessment essentials: planning, Paloma, C. A. and Banta, T.W. (1999). Assessment essentials: planning, implementing, and improving assessment in higher education. San implementing, and improving assessment in higher education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Francisco: Jossey-Bass.