Information About Upcoming Assessments

Spring 2010

Spring 2010 Assessment Day will be held February 16, 2010. More information will be available soon.

Fall 2009

Fall Assessment Day will be held Friday, August 21st, 2009.

The Fall 2009 Assessment Day will occur during the "1787 Orientation" for entering freshmen. All freshmen are required to attend the assessments.

Please check your Mappy label for time and room assignment.

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 2009 (August 21st) 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 21st. Students who fail to take assessments on August 21st 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 10 am and 2 pm. 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.