Information About Upcoming Assessments

Spring 2008 Assessment Day

Spring 2008

Students who have between 45 and 70 earned credit hours during the Spring 2008 semester are required to attend the Spring Assessment Day.  Assessment results help JMU to understand and improve the quality of education that is being offered on campus.  In addition, the Commonwealth of Virginia mandates that all state universities assess student learning to ensure quality.

This year, the Spring Assessment Day will take place on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008.  Classes between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. are cancelled to allow for students to participate in this important activity.

Additionally, some academic major programs require graduating seniors to take assessments covering information specific to the major. Students who wish to learn more about the academic major program assessments should contact their advisor or department faculty.

"How do I know if I will be required to attend Assessment Day?”
If you have between 45 and 70 earned credit hours you are required to attend the Spring Assessment Day.  Click here for instructions on how you can find out how many credit hours you have.  Additionally, students with between 45 and 70 earned credits who are required to attend Spring Assessment Day are notified via e-mail prior to the date of the assessment. 
If you are a senior and you are interested in determining if you will be required to attend a departmental major assessment (commonly known as “Senior Assessments”), contact the department in which your academic major is located or your academic advisor.

“What if I have between 45 and 70 earned credits and I can’t attend the February 12th Assessment Day?”
If you have a legitimate reason for not being able to attend the February 12th Assessment Day, contact the Center for Assessment and Research Studies prior to February 12th to arrange for an alternate testing session.

BEGINNING IN 2007: Students who do not make prior testing arrangements and miss their assigned Assessment Day session will be assigned to a three-hour make-up session that will take place on a Saturday morning in March or April. 

Fall 2008

Fall Assessment Day will be held Friday, August 22nd, 2008.

The Fall 2008 Assessment Day will occur during the "1787 Orientation" for entering freshmen. All freshmen are required to attend the assessments.

If the last digit of your JMU id is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, you will be assigned to the morning session (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.).
If the last digit of your JMU id is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, you will be assigned to the afternoon session (1 p.m. - 4 p.m.).

If you need to make special arrangements due to a disability of any type, please contact the Center at 568-6706. 

Specific Questions about the Fall 2008 (August 22nd) Assessment Day

1.  Do I have to go? How will I find out?
Entering freshmen are required to participate in Assessment Day.   You will receive a notice as part of your orientation materials. 

2.  Where do I go on Assessment Day?
You are assigned to your location based on the last two digits of your student ID. As part of orientation all students will receive a Mappy which will provide information on Assessment Day room assignments.

3.  I cannot attend Assessment Day.  What do I do?
Please contact the Center for Assessment and Research studies prior to Assessment Day assessment@jmu.edu if you know that you will not be able to attend Assessment Day on August 22nd. Students who fail to take assessments on August 22nd may have a "hold" placed on their record.

4.  I’ve already taken other assessment tests as an entering freshmen. Do I still have to participate in Assessment Day?
The tests on Assessment Day are different than other tests you may have taken. All entering freshman are required to participate in Assessment Day.

5. I am an entering freshman, so what should I expect from Assessment Day?
You should arrive prior to your scheduled assessment time (see chart above) as assessments begin promptly at 9am and 1pm. Trained proctors will instruct you in the purpose of assessments here at JMU and will inform you of the guidelines and procedures related to the assessments. You will then take a variety of instruments that may related to your general education courses, your adjustment to college at JMU, health and wellness, perceptions of various activities, or beliefs about learning. All students must stay until the end of their appointed assessment time, although some assessments may finish in less than three hours. The results of these assessments are critical to your education at JMU because they help inform program changes and improvements, which in turn lead to a higher quality of education.

6. What can and should I bring to Assessment Day?
Many students will take assessments using Scantron forms, so you may wish to bring a #2 pencil; however, pencils will be provided for all those who do not have them. Please do not bring food or drink into the assessment room.

7. Will I be able to use the restroom during the 3-hour assessments?
Yes, restroom breaks are allowed at the discretion of the test proctor(s).

8. Although the chart above indicates that I must go to a morning assessment, can I go to an afternoon assessment instead?
Students must take their assessments in their assigned rooms at their assigned times unless otherwise instructed by a member of the Assessment Day staff.