Assessment at South
Culture of Assessment
The University of South Alabama is committed to demonstrating the effectiveness and value of the programs and services that contribute to the university’s ability to achieve its goals and fulfill its mission. Assessment works best as an ongoing process. We aim to cultivate a strong and comprehensive institutional culture of assessment.
This assessment page serves as a source of transparency and provides guidelines for the growth of assessment at the University of South Alabama.
Assessment is non-punitive.
- Assessment is a process to identify solid practices and practices that should be changed or improved.
- Effective assessment depends on reliable results and honest reflection, neither of which should be used punitively.
Assessment is comprehensive.
- Meaningful results are derived using multiple valid methods: direct and indirect, qualitative and quantitative, formative and summative.
Assessment is well documented.
- All departments, programs, and services must systematically collect and document evidence showing how well they achieve their mission and goals.
If you have questions or would like assistance, please email assessment@southalabama.edu.
- Benefits for faculty
An outcomes-oriented approach to instruction provides faculty with valid and meaningful evidence of student learning, which can inform and facilitate conversations at the institution-level, department-level, or course-level about curricular planning, staffing, and space.
- Benefits for students
An outcomes-oriented approach to instruction encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning by focusing on course and program goals. Students who understand what is expected of them are better equipped to assess their own mastery, seek assistance as needed, and make progress toward successful and timely degree completion.
The purpose of accreditation is to demonstrate accountability to external audiences on the university’s commitment to educational achievement and continuous improvement.
Assessment is an internal process that provides evidence of the university’s commitment to accountability.
The primary purpose of assessment is to improve student learning, program quality, and the effectiveness of services. Assessment data is only beneficial when used to improve or maintain performance.
The meaning of assessment data, and how to use that data to improve the program, must be decided as part of a larger discussion about the goals and needs of the program. When faculty/staff discuss the goals, needs, and achievements of their students and programs, they are better able to work toward desired outcomes in a coordinated manner. Multiple faculty/staff members are needed to create a useful assessment plan for the programs and units.
Only stand-alone certificate programs are required to undergo individual assessment. We define stand-alone certificates as academic credit-bearing certificates not embedded in an existing degree program. A standalone certificate program is available to both degree and non-degree-seeking students
Direct measures involve collecting data from the demonstration of knowledge, capabilities, skills, and ways of thinking related to the learning objectives by students. Indirect measures approach assessment differently, this technique involves collecting data without the demonstration component.
Direct Measures
- Essays/Papers
- Analyses of senior theses
- Projects
- Standardized Exams
- Presentations
- Lab Assignments
- Performance Evaluations
- Case Study Analysis
Indirect Measures
- Exit Interviews
- Surveys of recent graduates
- Focus Groups
- Course Evaluations
Please contact the Office of Institutional Effectiveness for all questions and concerns with assessment-related and APR inquiries
The assessment handbook is a comprehensive guide to the assessment process at the University of South Alabama. It provides detailed information and guidance on best practices for measuring and improving student learning outcomes, as well as tools and templates for the components of an assessment report, data collection, and analysis. The handbook is designed to support faculty, staff, and administrators in their efforts to ensure the quality and effectiveness of our academic programs, administrative units, and student support services.
If you have questions or would like assistance, please email assessment@southalabama.edu.
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Month |
Administrative Units | Academic Programs | Academic and Support Services |
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| August | |||
| September |
Third Friday: |
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| October |
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Third Friday: Feedback given |
| November |
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| December |
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| January | Third Friday: Feedback provided to FY reporting units |
Second Week: Feedback provided to Academic Programs |
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| February |
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| June |
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| July |