Job Description
The Program Assessment Liaison will be responsible for overseeing the collaborative process of developing and implementing a degree program assessment plan for each degree. Responsibilities of the assessment liaison include the following activities and will be supported throughout the process by the CTL:
- Reviewing materials and examples of degree program assessment from the CTL.
- Designing an assessment plan of student learning outcomes for each degree offered by the department while ensuring input from all relevant stakeholders (faculty, students, staff, etc.).
- Submitting the assessment plan draft for input from CTL, Dean of College, and Academic Affairs.
- Overseeing the initial pilot phase of assessment data collection.
What Makes a Good Liaison
- Familiarity with degree curriculum and how students flow through it (or interested and willing to do a deep dive into this);
- Capacity to move this beyond a check boxing effort and work reflective and intentionally to develop a useful tool for thinking about your programs (i.e. not the department chair);
- Someone looking for a meaningful service appointment that would strengthen a promotion dossier.
- Has that natural ability to collaborate and get input from others. Enjoys engaging with their colleagues and getting their input.
Anticipated Timeline and Deliverables
We anticipate the development of the assessment plan to take between 4 to 6 months. We acknowledge that not all programs will be starting from the same place with degree program assessment, so we will work to customize this timeline and tailor the focus areas and deliverables to the needs of your department.
Example Timeline
Deliverable(s):
- Signed commitment letter and extra compensation form
Focus:
- Overview of assessment handbook and resources
- Revisiting plan for those programs who already have one in place
- Review PLOs for each degree program
Deliverable(s):
- Consultations and discussion about any revisions to PLOs for the degree(s)
Focus:
- Gather materials
- Analysis of curriculum map
- Seek input from colleagues on student success for each PLO
- Draft of one PLO assessment table as a learning exercise
Deliverable(s):
- Consultations/check in with CTL
- Draft of one PLO assessment table for feedback
Cohort members will be polled about availability and meetings will be scheduled as best as possible to accommodate all liaisons.
Focus:
- Review of progress
- Troubleshooting barriers
- Discussion of methods for standardization (rubrics, shared assignments, exams, etc.).
Deliverable(s):
- Table 2 draft in the works for 2-3 PLOs
Focus:
- Drafting assessment plan, establishing benchmarks, process, and schedule
Deliverable(s):
- Consultations/check in with CTL
- Table 2 completed for each PLO
- Standardized instrument for assessment
Focus:
- Seeking input from stakeholders on feasibility, benchmarks, process, etc.
Deliverable(s):
- Assessment plan draft presentation and discussion
Focus:
- Seeking additional input from stakeholders and revision of assessment plans incorporating feedback from Dean and Academic Affairs
Deliverable(s):
- Revised assessment plan ready to begin data collection