University of Scranton Faculty Present at Drexel’s Annual Conference on Teaching and Learning Assessment

University of Scranton faculty recently participated in Drexel University’s Annual Conference on Teaching & Learning Assessment: Academic Quality: Driving Assessment and Accreditation, held in Philadelphia. As colleges and universities face great challenges in developing effective assessments, best practices shared across higher education lead to tangible improvement for students.

Satyajit Ghosh, Ph.D., professor of economics; Richard Walsh, assistant provost of operations; and Nicholas Truncale, faculty specialist, Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering, and assessment fellow, College of Arts and Sciences, presented “How to Design and Implement a Comprehensive Assessment Plan Under Pressure,” which included the guiding principles needed to development a plan designed around a three-year cycle. Their example focused on assessment of program learning outcomes in alignment with institutional learning outcomes as part of a continual process, rather than as a one-time effort. The group also presented on an electronic annual reporting system developed by the University as a tool to ensure consistency in information management.

Rebecca Haggerty, assistant dean for assessment and programs at Scranton, and Daniel Haggerty, Ph.D., professor of philosophy and director of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Program, presented “What A Difference Assessment Can Make,” which focused on implementing assessment for a unique, specialized honors program and the challenges involved in initiating various assessment measures. The presenters shared their experience in assessing interdisciplinary or co-curricular programs and integrating assessment into other like programs or programs identified as “high impact practices” to improve academic quality. Benefits resulting from the model of collaboration between university departments and specialized programs improved student educational experiences and greater faculty engagement.

Drexel University hosted more then 420 attendees from 28 states and five foreign countries, including Israel, Pakistan, Canada, Andorra and Morocco, at its third annual event. The conference featured 165 panelists and presenters and offered 56 concurrent sessions as well as three plenary speakers.