Assessment Summit

The Division of Strategic Analytics and Data Illumination (SADI), in partnership with the Office of Accreditation and Assessment, organized this event to provide an engaging environment for faculty, staff, and administrators to participate in meaningful discussions on research and assessment at Kean University. The event, themed Assessment Trends: Navigating Past, Present, and Future, was held on Thursday, October 10th, 2024. 

Attendees celebrated the collaborative culture of assessment at Kean and highlighted the Moonshot for Equity initiative. 

Dr. Bethany Miller
Associate Provost and Chief Data Officer, Macalester College

Bethany Miller is the director of institutional research and assessment at Macalester College (MN). Her work creates a foundation for collaboration to build shared understanding and use data to support student and institutional success. With a focus on equity and inclusion along with assessment, she has published, presented, and consulted, building on her professional experiences as director of institutional research at Mary Baldwin University (VA) and director of institutional research and assessment at Cornell College (IA).

Miller is currently coauthoring a book on equity-centered collaboration in the use of data to inform student and institutional success. She is active in regional and national organizations related to institutional research and assessment including Association for Institutional Research (AIR), Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium (HEDS), and Association for Institutional Research of the Upper Midwest (AIRUM). Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in English and earned a PhD in education with an emphasis in research, evaluation, statistics, and assessment from University of Southern Mississippi.

Bringing It All Together: Equity-centered assessment in practice
This workshop will explore the foundations of equity-centered assessment, with a focus on quality, equity, and student success in higher education. Participants will engage in discussions and activities to explore strategies for fostering campus-wide participation in assessment practices that prioritize equity. 

Presenter: Bethany L. Miller, Ph.D.

Tools & Tech for Efficient Workflows and Streamlining Assessment:

Join us for a workshop on practical tools and technologies to enhance assessment. Explore AI for automated grading, data analysis, and feedback generation. Learn to use Microsoft tools for assessments, data collection, and reporting. Discover innovative templates, advanced data techniques, and specialized tools for rubrics, surveys, and data visualization.

Presenter: Muhammad Hassan, Ed.D.

The Navigate360 Effect: Past Achievements, Present Impact, and Future Goals for Student Success

Navigate360, launched at Kean University in Fall 2023, is a Student Success Management System focused on enhancing student retention and success. This session covers its journey, key achievements, and future goals, offering valuable insights for administrators, faculty, and advisors on effectively using Navigate360 to support students.

Presenter: Gillian Scott, MEd. 

But What If We Didn’t: Using Ungrading to Assess Learning

Assessment and grading, while distinct, are closely connected. This workshop introduces "ungrading," an alternative assessment method centered on learning and growth. We'll explore insights from thought leaders such as Starr Sackstein, Cathy N. Davidson, Susan Blum, Jesse Stommel, and Asao B. Inoue, and discuss strategies for grading less and enhancing student learning.

Presenter: Chris Friend, Ph.D. and Marguerite Mayhall, Ph.D.

The Cougar Climb: A Case Study of an Evolving Retention Program

Join us for an in-depth look at how a department revitalized a dormant student-success program through collaboration and data-driven strategies. This presentation will showcase the Cougar Climb program’s evolution, its soft relaunch in fall 2023, and the integration of the LifeJourney career app. Learn how these efforts, supported by the entire Kean community, have strengthened the program’s impact on student success and career readiness.

Presenter: Sandra Espinal, Katie Miles, and Joe Sarno

Equity Hackathon

Join us for a lunch information session on the upcoming Equity Hackathon, launched by the Moon Shot for Equity Steering Committee. Beginning in mid-September, this Hackathon invites the campus community to propose solutions for closing equity gaps in student outcomes and experiences. The initiative will culminate with formal pitches at the March 2025 Mid-Year Convocation. Discover how you can get involved and make a difference!

Presenter: Neva Lozada, Ed.D.

Mastering Accreditation: Strategies for a Successful Site Visit

This session delves into the meticulous preparation and strategic efforts that contributed to a successful ACOTE site visit. Participants will gain invaluable insights and practical advice to help them prepare for their own accreditation processes. The session will provide a comprehensive overview of best practices, common challenges, and effective strategies for navigating the accreditation process with confidence.

Presenter: Claire Mulry

Dashboards: Data to inspire action

This interactive presentation will dive into Kean University’s Student Success Dashboard and illuminate data related to student outcomes and institutional equity gaps with the end goal of turning insight into action.

Presenter: Nima Sherpa

Special Collections Research Library and Archive (SCRLA)

Join us for an introduction to the Special Collections Research Library and Archive (SCRLA). We’ll highlight key items related to assessment and faculty, explain how to access these resources both in-person and online, and provide details on scheduling research visits or class workshops. Additionally, there will be a table display where faculty can view and handle select items under the supervision of the Archivist.

Presenter: Erin Alghandoor

Leveraging Assessment in Enrollment Services for Continuous Improvement

The Enrollment Services team will discuss how assessment supports continuous improvement in division operations, aligning with the University's Strategic Plan and the Moon Shot for Equity initiative. They will focus on strategies for effectively communicating with and engaging students to enhance recruitment, application, enrollment, and persistence to graduation at Kean.

Presenter: Marsha McCarthy, DBA, Scott Snowden, Ed.D. and John Van Brunt, DBA.

Reimagining Critical Thinking: Integrating AI and Data in Sociology Assignments

An interactive workshop where we dive into the Sociology Assessment Data for Critical Thinking (AY 2023-24) and explore thought-provoking perspectives on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Engage in hands-on activities to collaboratively create two innovative signature assignments for the Introduction to Sociology course, aimed at enhancing the assessment of critical thinking. Let’s rethink and reshape how we approach critical thinking with AI and Big Data in higher education!

Presenter: Julia Nevarez, Ph.D. and Dean Casale, Ph.D.

Program Assessment System (P.A.S.)

A brief description of Kean's new initiative to implement a Structured Approach to Assessment across academic and administrative departments. This will be an interactive session with participants completing a P.A.S template. The template will comprise many assessment constructs that include PLOs, SLOs (Academic Departments) and functional outcomes (Admin. Units)

Presenter: Colin Anderson, Ph.D.

Connect & Reflect

Join us for the "Connect & Reflect: Closing Session" to wrap up the Assessment Summit with an opportunity to mingle, network, and share insights with fellow participants. This informal session is designed to foster connections, spark conversations, and reflect on key takeaways from the day. Refreshments will be provided as we come together to celebrate our shared commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration.

For resources and information about our First Assessment Summit that took place 2023, please click here: 2023 Assessment Summit. This link will direct you to a collection of valuable materials, including presentations from the event. We hope these resources provide useful insights and guidance as you reflect on the summit.