Assessment

Assessment Objectives and Assessment Team

Objective

Student learning is our central focus here at Divine Word College. In order to measure our students’ learning and to ensure their learning experience is being addressed, fostered, and continually improved, Divine Word College has implemented various assessment processes that enable faculty and staff to gather and use assessment data, evidence, and feedback. By doing so, we strive to continually advance and improve our curriculum, course offerings, and adapt to emerging changes or trends. We are interested in knowing when and how our students learn and what we can do to improve and enhance their experience. We view assessment as an integral part of an effective institution, a successful and fulfilling student learning experience, and a productive and involved faculty contribution.

Team

Institutional Assessment Committee

Dr. Mathew Kanjirathinkal (Professor of Sociology & Accreditation Liaison)

Dr. Jason Reed (Assistant Professor of Philosophy)

Dr. Mark Garton (Associate Professor of ESL)

Sr. Anna Trang Mai (Instructor of Theology; Formation and Spiritual Director)

Fr. Tuan Hoang, SVD (Associate Dean of Students)

Sr. Aprilia Untarto, SSpS (Formtion Team)

Dr. Yasmin Rioux (Chair Institutional Assessment Committee; Director for Institutional Effectiveness; Assistant Professor of Communication)

Director for Institutional Effectiveness

Dr. Yasmin Rioux

Assessment Overview

**The 6 Steps of Assessment (per Allen, 2004, "Assessing Academic Programs in Higher Education")**

The six steps of assessment include:

Creating learning objectives
Checking for and ensuring alignment between a curriculum and the established objectives
Developing an institutional assessment plan
Collecting assessment data via various methodologies
Use the given data results to improve a program
Frequently re-examine the assessment plan and process and adjust and improve where needed

DWC Assessment Plan

At Divine Word College, we ensure educational quality by following the six steps of assessment. We have established a solid and cyclical assessment plan with specific processes and elements that is faculty-oriented, data-driven and reflective of the institution’s Mission. By exploring our courses, programs, and Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) through curriculum mapping, we were able to determine the status of our alignment and make changes accordingly. Our identified Signature Assignments highlight the established Program Learning Outcomes and yield data that we effectively analyze via powerful assessment software and that produces information we can use to continuously improve our students’ educational experience. We close the assessment loop by using previously collected data to draw conclusions, make inferences, recognize trends, identify ramifications, and make recommendations for departmental and program improvements.

Our departments produce Annual Undergraduate Department Assessment Reports that emphasize progress, improvement, reflection, analysis, and faculty engagement in the assessment process. Our Assessment Guide for Undergraduate Faculty effectively supports our faculty in their assessment efforts and provides timelines, assessment procedure outlines, templates, and more. Several of our faculty and staff have been participating in the HLC Assessment Academy to further improve the quality of our learning environment and enhance our professional development and awareness of current trends and best practices.

Through ongoing collaborations and involvement, the Academic Assessment Committee, Faculty, and Director of Institutional Effectiveness acknowledge the recursive nature of assessment and continually strive towards enhancing the quality of all programs.

Assessment Plan and Timeline

When	What	Who
August	Faculty Evaluator Training	Director for Institutional Effectiveness
September	Evaluations of signature assignments complete	Faculty Evaluators
Early October	Start Fall Project Outcomes Assessment Projects	Registrar: Director for Institutional Effectiveness
Mid October	Data analyzed; basic department changes drafted Present findings and make recommendations to departments	Chairs Academic Departments VPAA
October	Publish data	Director for Institutional Effectiveness
March	Start new Spring Project in Outcomes Assessment Projects	Director for Institutional Effectiveness
March	Publish data	Director for Institutional Effectiveness
May	Repeat the cycle and produce data	Academic Departments

DWC Mission & Its Role in Assessment

All Program Learning Outcomes at DWC support and reflect the college mission. Review our Program Learning Outcomes and Signature Assignments by department.