Measuring things is a part of everyday life. We weigh, count caloires, time races, and keep score. Without measuring, we wouldn't know how we're doing with respect to whatever we're measuring. In short, it makes a lot of sense. Measuring things around a university is no different. We call it assessment.

 

Assessment is not about making reports, sending reports, or accumulating reports! I see university assessment as the taking of our institutional temperature. How healthy are we? Are we doing what we say we're doing? Are our students measuring up? Do our service areas deliver? If we don't systematically assess, we are left to rely on anecdotal evidence alone. While helpful, it is limited.

 

I believe we need to ask the right questions which in turn will prompt us to want to assess to find the answers. If we aren't asking provocative questions, we really don't care to know the answers. Right questions make assessment relevant, useful, and meaningful to us and others. It creates a continuous approach rather than an episodic approach. It's about us, not about them.

 

The Testing and Outcomes Assessment Office provides helpful support and guidance, and the University Assessment Committee exists to lead and support university-wide efforts. We welcome your ideas and comments.