Support Services: Assessment
Office Of Academic Assessment
Primary mission and goals:
- Work with academic units to develop and implement plans for student learning outcomes assessment.
- Serve as an assessment resource to the university community (including the Mountain and Statewide NAU sites) and provide development opportunities related to theory and practice in academic assessment.
- Improve communication about assessment across the institution, including both internal and external reports, workshops and presentations, online resources, and other avenues.
The Office maintains a variety of online resources to assist faculty with classroom, distance learning, and degree program assessment:
- Writing learning outcomes or objectives.
- Classroom assessment techniques and measures, including rubrics (scoring sheets), and direct and indirect assessment measures and approaches.
- Current NAU degree program assessment plans and reports.
- Guide to writing assessment plans for NAU degree programs, including a standardized plan template.
- Guide to writing annual reports for degree program assessment, including a report template.
University Assessment Committee
The Assessment Committee of Northern Arizona University was established by the Faculty Senate in 2002. It is an elected body comprised of faculty and professional staff from throughout the University. Its faculty members consist of two elected representatives from each college, for a total of 12.
Some Committee Goals:
- To develop and recommend institutional assessment procedures and policies.
- To review the usefulness of assessment strategies, reporting strategies and feedback processes.
- To work in cooperation with the Office of Academic Assessment to assist with:
- Familiarizing NAU faculty with assessment uses and strategies to strengthen student learning.
- Reviewing program-level assessment plans and providing helpful feedback to academic units developing their assessment plans and strategies.
For more information see the Office Web Site or contact Tom Paradis, Director, Office of Academic Assessment, 523-5853, Thomas.Paradis@nau.edu, or Marianne Nielsen, Chair, University Assessment Committee, 523-6512, M.Nielsen@nau.edu
