A+ for assessment

James Madison University shines in its quality and assessment practices that stretch across campus and affect student learning and enhancement. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation presented JMU with the Award for Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning during the CHEA National Conference in Washington D.C, on Jan. 26-28.

The award recognizes JMU as a national leader of quality assurance. The Student Learning award was established in 2005 to provide examples for institutions in the quality assessment area.  JMU uses a form of meta-assessment, a wholesome assessment process, which not only looks at the elements of an assessment, but the conditions and the needs that require assessment.  

Criteria for the award include the evidence and articulation, the success, the information to the public, and the application of outcomes for educational improvement.  The review of JMU included assessment practices over a breadth of academic programs, the quality, the strengths and weaknesses, and how the assessment system affects the individual student’s learning.