The Office of Assessment engaged in several activities during the 1999-2000 academic year and accomplished some important objectives. Four activities are especially important.

Creation of a Working Assessment Council. The creation of an Assessment Council was approved by the faculty at its September 29, 1999 meeting. The composition of the Council includes the Director of Assessment, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Executive Director of Institutional Research and Planning, three faculty (by division), and one student. Faculty (Carol Cissel, Len Pysh, and Virginia Stewart) were elected in early November, and a student (Jonathan Fagan) was appointed by the Student Government Association at the same time. The Council met initially on November 29th and held six additional meetings during the year in addition to meeting in the fall with Dr. Paul Fidler, the CCLS consultant, and in the spring, with Dr. Charles Toomajian, the intensive learning consultant. After a couple of meetings dedicated to an assessment "orientation," the Council developed a set of principles to guide assessment at Roanoke, reviewed the components of the college model for "assessment plans" and the structure of the "annual assessment programs," discussed the intersection of assessment and planning/budgeting, met with the directors of General Education and the Honors Program to discuss how the Council might be of most service to them, and discussed an agenda for 2000-01.

Refinement of Academic Assessment Plans and Annual Assessment Programs. Throughout the year, the Director worked with the chairs of academic departments and directors of academic programs to create and refine their assessment plans (statement of purpose, outcomes objectives, and assessment mechanisms) and their "annual assessment programs" (based on the Nichols five-column model). Ultimately, a plan and program was submitted for all departments and academic programs. Near the end of the year, the Director wrote an updated assessment manual, Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment for Academic Majors and Programs at Roanoke College.

Refinement of Administrative Department Assessment Plans and Annual Assessment Programs. Throughout the year, the Associate Director of Academic Affairs (primarily) and the Director of Assessment (secondarily) worked with the heads of administrative departments to create and refine their assessment plans (statement of purpose, outcomes objectives, and assessment mechanisms) and their "annual assessment programs" (based on the Nichols five-column model). Two workshops were held in early May to review requirements and to provide individual, on-site assistance to the department heads. Ultimately, a plan and program was submitted for all departments. Near the end of the year, the Director wrote an assessment manual, Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment for Administrative Departments at Roanoke College.

Refinement of College's Integration of Assessment into the Planning and Budgeting Process. While the College has long employed an effective system of departmental goal-setting and follow-up and has integrated this process into strategic planning, effort was extended this year to fully integrating the enhanced system of assessment into planning and budgeting processes. Through the efforts of Drs. Weiss, Larsen, and Whitson, the Cabinet, and the Assessment Council, a method was developed for closely tieing assessment into strategic planning. The Assessment Director wrote an accompanying manual, Institutional Effectiveness, Assessment, and Strategic Planning at Roanoke College.

Further Development and Refinement of the College's Institutional Effectiveness Web Site. The assessment web site was enlarged and enhanced this year and now contains more helpful assessment-related information and links.

Gregory L. Weiss
Professor of Sociology and
Director of Assessment