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Frequently Asked Questions About Assessment Day
Answers to FAQs about Assessment
What is assessment?
Generally, assessment "is the systematic basis for making inferences about the learning and development of students. More specifically, assessment is the process of defining, selecting, designing, collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and using information to increase students' learning and development" (T.D. Erwin, Assessing Student Learning and Development, p. 15).
James Madison University initiated its institutional assessment program in 1986. Assessment studies focuses on several functional areas: the major; general education; high risk students; alumni; student affairs; off-campus instruction; and ad hoc studies, such as the impact of multimedia instruction.
With support from the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia, a speech communication competency project was started in 1994. As a result of this project, a process has been developed whereby students can earn college credit by demonstrating public speaking knowledge and skill.
Each academic program and educationally related student affairs program designates an assessment coordinator who works with faculty in the Center for Assessment and Research Studies (CARS). Assessment faculty work with other student affairs faculty and staff in the delineation of educational affairs, selection and design of assessment methods, and analytical strategies. About 90% of our assessment methods are designed locally. We have two formal Assessment Days each year, one in the fall, and one in the spring. All new entering first-year students participate in the fall Assessment Day, which is held the day before classes begin. During spring assessment, classes are canceled and all students with 45-70 credit hours (typically second-semester sophomores and first-semester juniors) participate in assessment. With both sessions, we systematically assess entering students in relation to our general education and developmental goals. The spring Assessment Day also affords the academic major programs the opportunity to assess their seniors as part of their departmental assessment designs.
At JMU, we have a tradition of commitment to the development of the "total" student. We know that each student will grow and develop in many ways during their academic career, and our faculty has worked hard for many years to develop these assessment programs. We use the information provided by students from all of our assessment efforts to study and further improve our academic and support programs for both current and future students. The information provided by students has directly influenced and enhanced the quality of James Madison University's educational and curricular programs.
Why does JMU have assessment?
Assessment enables the University to answer important questions being asked increasingly by students, parents, employers, and legislators about what a college degree is worth. Students who take assessment tests at JMU are helping the University understand and improve the quality of education being offered on our campus. Everyone benefits when JMU builds into your education a process that helps academic programs and courses systematically improve. In addition, the Commonwealth of Virginia mandates that all state universities assess student learning to ensure quality.
At JMU, assessment is an ongoing improvement-oriented process in which all students and programs participate.
How does assessment work at JMU?
All JMU students are required to participate in assessment over the course of their academic career. For example, students are tested during summer visitation as well as orientation before their first year. Students are required to demonstrate competencies in some areas of general education during their first year. Students are tested when they have taken between 45 and 70 total credit hours, which generally occur during the spring of their sophomore year. Assessment in the major takes place during the senior year. Graduates will be asked to participate in alumni studies.
At JMU assessment is an ongoing improvement oriented process in which all students and programs participate.
What kinds of tests will I be taking during assessment?
Several types of tests are administered, including tests of critical thinking, cultural knowledge, intellectual, and personal development. In addition, tests measuring knowledge in general education are administered. For general education, sometimes, different tests are administered in different rooms; this allows a great deal of information to be collected, without requiring every student to be assessed in every area. Every academic major has determined the best way for students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have obtained at JMU. All student affairs programs at JMU are active partners in assessment.
At JMU assessment is an ongoing improvement oriented process in which all students and programs participate.
What is JMU trying to find out by assessing students?
Assessment at JMU is designed to answer many questions including:
- Which courses contribute most to student learning?
- Are each of the packages achieving the goals and objectives for the general education clusters?
- How do JMU students change and develop over time?
- Do students have the competencies to do upper level course work and be successful citizens?
- Are the majors achieving the goals and objectives they have specified?
- Is JMU successfully preparing students for work or graduate school?
- How can JMU continue to improve as the needs of students and society change?
At JMU assessment is an ongoing improvement oriented process in which all students and programs participate.
How does JMU attempt to address these questions with assessment?
During the first year of courses students will be assessed many times including assessments that are embedded within general education courses. The assessments administered during the sophomore year are used as a "posttest" in order to determine how the students' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs have changed over the course of their time at JMU. In general, students will complete the same tests as sophomores that they completed as freshmen.
At JMU assessment is an ongoing improvement oriented process in which all students and programs participate.
If I haven't had any courses in a subject area, how would this information be useful?
The information gained during assessment makes it possible to compare students who have completed coursework in certain areas to those who have not. For example, it is useful to compare students who have taken a history class at JMU to those who have not. This comparison would indicate whether history classes at JMU significantly increase students' knowledge of history. Further, including students who transfer history credits to JMU provides an additional comparison group. Transfer students' scores can be compared with the scores of students who began their studies at JMU. Like all other JMU students, transfer students are required to take assessments when they have completed/transferred a total of 45 and 70 credit hours. Comparisons help us understand the 'value added' by your education.
At JMU assessment is an ongoing improvement oriented process in which all students and programs participate.
How are assessment results used and who benefits?
Each class of students benefits from assessment in some way, whether it is from changes made as a result of their own assessments or from those made as a result of past students' assessment. Some changes can be immediate. This information sheet is an example of an immediate change. Other changes will take more time. The process works best hen students give their best effort realizing that the consequences of their results will be used to make this University the best University it can be.
At JMU assessment is an ongoing improvement oriented process in which all students and programs participate.
What should I do if I can't make an assessment?
Some students with exceptional circumstances, such as athletes who have games on Assessment Day, may be allowed to reschedule their assessment testing. Because assessment information is so critical to improve the university, however, it is expected that students participate in assessments on the assigned day.
At JMU assessment is an ongoing improvement oriented process in which all students and programs participate.
How can I obtain more information about assessment?
For more information, you can call the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at (540) 568-6706.
At JMU assessment is an ongoing improvement oriented process in which all students and programs participate.
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