Mission: Through our work with faculty and staff, the School-based assessment specialists, in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Assessment, coordinate, facilitate, and advance assessment practices and processes in support of evidence-informed decision making and planning. In keeping with campus’ Principles of Assessment, we advocate academic and administrative assessment practices that advance student learning, teaching, research and service.
Goal 1: For FAOs, faculty, and staff, provide strategic, methodological, and logistical support for annual and periodic program assessment activities that address priorities for advancing student learning and success and the research endeavor.
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Consult on assessment planning, including methods, timeline, disciplinary or administrative priorities, and tools (e.g. focus group scripts, rubrics, survey questions)
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Provide logistical support for data collection.
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Prepare content for annual assessment reports, for instance, data summaries, updated outcomes (service or academic)
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Prepare content for periodic review reports, for instance, data summaries, academic and administrative
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Consult on response to assessment findings in support of continuous improvement in student learning and/or student success.
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Direct faculty and programs to relevant campus and professional resources in support of continuous improvement in student learning and/or student success (ex. CRTE).
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Facilitate program cohesion through curriculum alignment activities, for example, review of syllabi and course learning outcomes in relation to program goals for student learning.
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Provide logistical and administrative support for programmatic accreditation activities, including self-studies, site visits, etc.
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Provide assessment-related record keeping.
Goal 2: For FAOs, faculty, staff, and students, effectively communicate assessment purposes, values, methods, and resources within the School, and across campus.
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Draft memos and assessment-related correspondence.
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Develop and maintain websites and other materials describing program assessment practices
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Present at orientations, retreats, & workshops and other related opportunities
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Consult on assessment planning, including methods, timeline, disciplinary or administrative priorities, and tools (e.g. focus group scripts, rubrics, survey questions)
Goal 3: For faculty, staff and leadership, provide ad-hoc data reports and analyses in support of operational planning and decision making.
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Supply ad-hoc data reports, and analyses, in support of academic and administrative needs.
Goal 4: For leadership, coordinate school assessment activities, academic and administrative in support of their priorities.
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Provide data for strategic and budget planning.
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Summarize assessment activities, academic and administrative, identifying relevant trends.
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Advise on assessment-related issues as relevant.
Goal 5: For all stakeholders, support institutional efforts to advance the sustainable integration of assessment into campus planning and decision making at all levels.
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Participate in institutional assessment committees and projects, e.g. the Campus Working Group on Assessment.
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Identify and implement assessment practices, processes, and tools that allow faculty and staff to focus on the most important elements of assessment: evaluating findings and identifying and implementing related actions.
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Promote use of assessment findings in institutional planning and decision making processes, as appropriate.
Goal 6: For external stakeholders, communicate UC Merced's educational effectiveness practices to external stakeholders.
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Develop and maintain websites and other materials describing program assessment practices, while maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information, including as desired by programs.
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Ensure websites, and other communications materials, meet accreditor expectations for transparency.
