TAMIU Cited by National Researchers for ‘Robust’ Assessment Practices
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Aug 3, 2012, 0 Comments
Courtesy Steve Harmon,
Researchers from the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA) have recognized Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) as a featured institution in their report “Using Assessment Results: Promising Practices of Institutions That Do It Well,” published this July.
TAMIU was one of nine two or four-year institutions selected to participate in case studies to determine how institutions productively use assessment data to inform and strengthen undergraduate education. TAMIU was the only Texas institution included.
Researchers Giana R. Baker, Natasha A. Jankowski, Staci Provezis and Jillian Kinzie selected the nine institutions based on “robust assessment processes and their history of demonstrating the use of assessment evidence.”
Of note about TAMIU, researchers said, was its “adapting assessment literature of assessment processes to their specific student population. TAMIU focused on how best to assess their student population in meaningful ways with activities and tools addressing the specific needs of their students and institution, such as their large population of first-generation students,” the authors wrote.
TAMIU president Dr. Ray Keck lauded the campus-wide efforts that led to TAMIU’s inclusion in NILOA’s national research.
“Our campus culture of assessment is deeply integrated in our TAMIU mission and daily life. It is accomplished by the tireless and focused efforts of our faculty and staff program coordinators in collaboration with our Institutional Effectiveness and Planning Team, headed by Veronica G. Martinez, Mary Trevino, our associate vice president for Academic Affairs and Dr. Juan Lira, associate provost. Their efforts are supported, implemented and maintained by our entire campus community. We are all honored that NILOA has recognized our assessment efforts and believes that what we do here at TAMIU has national modeling potential,” Dr. Keck said.
Of their assessment of TAMIU’s program and how others could follow TAMIU, researchers noted that there were lessons to be learned from TAMIU:
“1. Developing effective assessment processes takes committed ‘assessment champions’ and time; 2. Support from administrators helps motivate faculty and staff to engage in and stay engaged with assessment; 3. State institutions can leverage State-initiated assessment and accreditation requirements to ensure the assessment processes are developed and integrated to further student learning; 4. Openness, accessibility of information and sharing of practices are instrumental in integrating a culture of assessment on campus and, 5. Effective assessment requires an understanding of students and their needs, the campus context and the institution’s educational and assessment goals,” the authors concluded.
NILOA’s web site notes that its primary objective is “to discover and disseminate ways that academic programs and institutions can productively use assessment data internally to inform and strengthen undergraduate education and externally to communicate with policy makers, families and other stakeholders.” It is located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
To read the full NILOA research report with case studies on TAMIU and the other eight case study institutions, click on “New NILOA Report” at http://www.learningoutcomesassessment.org/
To find out more about TAMIU’s assessment program, call Veronica G. Martinez, director, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning at 956.326.2323, visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, Suite 334 or email veronica@tamiu.edu
The Fall Semester at TAMIU begins Thursday, Aug. 23.
Additional University information is available online at tamiu.edu and on the University’s social media sites on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. A free download is also available for the University’s App for smartphone and tablet at tamiu.edu
