Student Affairs Assessment - Softcover

Henning, Gavin W.; Roberts, Darby

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1620363364 ISBN 13: 9781620363362

Publisher: Routledge, 2016

Synopsis

With the recognition of the integral role of student affairs in student education, and with stakeholders requiring increasing accountability at a time of tight resources, it has become imperative that staff be familiar with and competent in undertaking assessment. This book provides student affairs staff with the grounding they need to integrate assessment into how they design and monitor the programs, services, and activities they create to contribute to students’ development.

This book is intended both as a text for student affairs and higher education master’s programs, and as a practical guide for early career staff who have had little formal preparation in assessment. It can be used for self-study or in professional development workshops. For divisions, departments, or units getting started with assessment, the discussion questions at the end of the chapters can engage staff in the process of developing an effective assessment culture.

This book provides a thorough introduction to all aspects of assessment, assuming no prior knowledge, and illustrated throughout with examples of application in student affairs settings. Key elements include:

· Takes into account the latest standards and competencies defined by AAC&U, ACPA, AER, CAS, NASPA, and others
· Introductory and comprehensive
· Provides essential background and theory
· Covers preparation, planning and design
· Describes the full range of assessment methods
· Introduces principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative analysis
· Guidance on using and sharing results
· Addresses cultivating and sustaining a culture of assessment
· Considers ethical and political concerns
· Covers use of technology
· Illustrated throughout by examples of practice in student affairs.

About this title

About the Author

Gavin W. Henning is a college student educator with a reputation as a coordinator, collaborator, and catalyst for educational change. He has more than 20 years of higher education experience that includes faculty, student affairs assessment, institutional research, and residence life. As associate professor and program director at New England College in New Hampshire, Henning coordinates the master’s of higher education administration and doctorate of education programs. He has served as president of ACPA―College Student Educators International as well as on the board of directors and executive committee of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS). Henning holds a doctor of philosophy degree in education leadership and policy studies and a master of arts degree in sociology, both from the University of New Hampshire, as well as a master of arts degree in college and university administration and a bachelor of science degree in psychology and sociology from Michigan State University.

Darby Roberts is director of Student Life Studies in the Division of Student Affairs at Texas A&M University, and a faculty member in the Student Affairs Administration and Higher Education master’s program. She is a past co-chair for the NASPA Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community, co-editor of Learning is Not a Sprint: Assessing and Documenting Student Leader Learning in Co-curricular Involvement, and a founding member of SAAL. Darby focuses on student learning in the co-curricular to move the profession, institutions, divisions, and departments forward in documenting the learning that occurs outside the classroom.

Marilee J. Bresciani Ludvik is Professor for Postsecondary Education and Co-Director of the Center for Educational Leadership, Innovation, and Policy, San Diego State University. She was formerly Assistant Vice President for Institutional Assessment at Texas A&M University. She has conducted outcomes assessment for programs and courses and is frequently invited to present assessment workshops nationally and internationally.

Review

“Student Affairs Assessment: Theory to Practice is one of a handful of new publications directed specifically at student affairs practitioners and graduate students who seek to study assessment. As the title indicates, this is a comprehensive text that includes topics not always covered in similar texts, including the history of assessment in student affairs, the importance of epistemology or ‘ways of knowing’ when it comes to thinking about assessment, the politics of assessment, and the uses of technology in practice. Henning and Roberts’ text would be ideal for course instruction as it covers theory to practice and could be taught in the order best suited for the class. Course instructors may choose to create assignments tethered to key points and discussion questions provided by the authors.” (Teachers College Record 2018-04-25)

“If my graduate program curriculum had included an assessment course, I would have liked for this new book from Henning and Roberts to be the text. And as I prepare to introduce a position dedicated to assessment and storytelling into my Student Affairs portfolio in the coming months, I’ll certainly purchase this book as a resource for our staff. Accessible to assessment newcomers and useful for seasoned professionals, Student Affairs Assessment: Theory to Practice belongs in Student Affairs libraries everywhere.” (John Austin, Executive Director, Student Affairs, Ryerson University 2015-12-01)

"Rigor in implementing assessment is emphasized throughout this volume. Rigor also characterizes the book’s contents, which are particularly thorough in explaining why and how to do assessment and how to use results to improve programs and services. The authors make unique contributions in chapters on epistemology, politics, closing the loop, and ethics." (Trudy W. Banta, Professor of Higher Education and Senior Advisor to the Chancellor Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis 2015-11-01)

"This comprehensive primer on student affairs based assessment is a welcome and valuable contribution to the profession. This is the best kind of example of connecting theory and practice, all for the benefit of our students. In many ways student affairs has led the academy in implementing true assessment of student learning and this work enables higher education to make even stronger progress on this critically important work.” (Mike Segawa, Dean of Students, University of Puget Sound 2015-11-01)

"Henning and Roberts bring their superb scholar-practitioner orientations to this informed, accessible, and comprehensive approach to assessment. Their experience shines with practical examples embedded in solid research methodologies. Built from now-classic documents in student affairs, both graduate students and those coming into student affairs work new to assessment will find this book foundation to their professional practice." (Susan R. Komives, professor emerita, Student Affairs Graduate Program, University of Maryland and past president of both ACPA and CAS 2015-11-01)

“If tasked to spearhead assessment with little support, this single resource might be what saves you. Whether new to assessment or interested in bolstering your grasp of assessment, you will find that this isn’t simply a textbook on assessment but rather a comprehensive review of the context, methods, and implications of assessment. Important chapters on the history and mechanics of assessment are balanced by often missing discussions of political realities and implications associated with assessment activities. This is a thorough handbook for everyone in student affairs.” (Dean L. Bresciani, President 2015-10-01)

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1620363364
• ISBN 13: 9781620363362
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 356