Assessment Insights from a Young Professional

Thoughts from Erika Garcia, Graduate Intern

As my master’s level internship in Student Affairs Strategic Planning and Assessment comes to a close, I have reflected on the key learning points and realizations that I have had throughout the experience regarding assessment, people, and the work of student affairs. I consider myself fortunate in having this practical assessment experience as it has taught me critical components of student affairs work that go beyond the textbooks, guest speakers, and lectures associated with the classroom and curricula. But I have also been motivated to synthesize key pieces of advice or nuggets of insight that I would like to relay to young professionals who are very eager to enter the student affairs world, but who may not have insight on the assessment world, or who have a very limited understanding of the nature of assessment work. The following are key components of assessment and strategic planning that we must each understand in order to better serve our students and our institutional goals.

Assessment is not going anywhere anytime soon. In the age of higher education accountability, institutions are being examined closer than ever. Because public institutions are a public and community investment, everyone wants to know if funds are being allocated where they are needed, if they are being used productively, and if resources are being utilized to achieve institutional goals. Assessment matters. My generation (millennials) of young professionals should understand that this is the higher education landscape we have inherited, and it is here to stay. We should learn the language, master it, and utilize it for institutional and programmatic improvement.

You will not understand it the first time. It is not your fault. Getting into the patterns of assessment thinking can be uncomfortable and unnatural for some of us. This combined with some of the most brilliant minds in assessment and evaluation are not the best at relaying information to a variety of non-assessment minds. What is important is that we seek out assessment teachers and advisors can help us understand and sort through this topic. The process of assessment involves thinking about the holistic goals of your department/organization, writing down these goals, identifying the method by which you will measure the attainment of goal, executing the measurement method, and interpreting results.

Keep it simple. Until you have a clear understanding of the nature, culture, and methods of assessment and strategic planning, keep it simple and uncomplicated. Do not throw in elaborate terminology, do not get wordy when writing student learning objectives, and do not add barriers to assessment success. The strategic plan process should be done carefully, meticulously, and with your best foot forward. The assessment process should be handled similarly in order to accurately gauge where you are in fulfilling the strategic plan. Do not go the Hail Mary route. Start with what is tried and true and build on that.

It is about the big picture. The purpose of strategic plan and assessment in student affairs is to build bridges between the bigger, institutional goals of the university and the smaller, everyday actions and services of staff. This means we must ensure that the connection between both of these elements is frequently revisited. A common sentiment from staff is that the work of assessment is not applicable to them. This is incorrect. Staff, who are often in the trenches of student affairs work, are key players in providing feedback for program and service improvement. It is important to think globally and holistically about your work, and how it contributes to the achievement of what your department has set out to accomplish.

I would like to thank Erika for sharing her insightful observations from this spring. Erika contributed so much this past semester, and I wish her all the best in her new position as Intercultural Program Coordinator at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

See you next month!
Kasey

Kasey Neece-Fielder
Director of Strategic Planning and Assessment
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
kasey.neece-fielder@utsa.edu
http://utsa.edu/students/assessment/