The college’s Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness (AIE) Committee developed the following continuity of assessment statement in response to the April 13, 2020 SUNY COVID-19 Guidance Regarding Continuity of Assessment memo. The statement addresses the importance of the maintenance of the culture of assessment in order to ensure quality and continuous improvement, especially the maintenance of student learning outcomes assessment. The AIE Committee statement was presented at the May 11, 2020 Academic Senate Meeting as an information item.
The statement also acknowledges and recognizes the outstanding efforts that everyone at Hudson Valley Community College is making to serve the college’s students during the COVID-19 crisis.
Hudson Valley Community College
ASSESSMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS COMMITTEE
S T A T E M E N T
RE: ASSESSMENT IN THE TIME OF COVID 19
Hudson Valley Community College’s Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness (AIE) Committee’s broad charge is to nourish and sustain a culture of assessment and to support the continuous improvement of student learning, educational programs, and administrative and educational support services. The AIE Committee strengthens and supports the college’s commitment to assessment with an emphasis on quality programs and service by providing oversight, guidelines, and resources for program- and unit-level implementation of assessment and evaluation activities. Additionally, the AIE Committee ensures and assists with the utilization of assessment results to improve and strengthen programs on an institution-wide basis (closing the loop).
Despite the current circumstances, the culture of assessment remains fundamental to ensuring quality and continuous improvement of the educational experience we provide for our students. That said, due to crucial efforts to ensure academic continuity, full implementation of HVCC’s standardized, complex, and comprehensive assessment practices may not be practicable at this time. The April 13, 2020 SUNY COVID-19 Guidance Regarding Continuity of Assessment memo has established guidelines for assessment practices that align with the standards of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
At this time, Hudson Valley is being asked to review its assessment practices to determine which are most essential and which could be temporarily adjusted or suspended, and focus on essential services being provided. For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, a strategically-focused approach with streamlined practices is the most effective way to maintain a culture of assessment without overburdening the campus community. The majority of departments and units typically have two – five intended outcomes that are assessed in the Assessment Plans each year and two – five initiatives that are included in the Unit Plans. At this time department/unit heads may find that many of these outcomes and initiatives have been delayed or terminated and that instead there is one or more department/unit activity or outcome that has risen to the forefront and become essential and immediate. In this case, it is requested that these identified essential outcomes/activities be included (if they do not already exist) in their Plans in Nuventive and be assessed in the upcoming fall 2020 Assessment/Unit Plan process. Those outcomes and initiatives that have been delayed or terminated should be indicated as such in Nuventive as well at that time.
Student learning outcomes assessment remains at the forefront of Hudson Valley’s assessment process and it is of the upmost importance that it will continue to be performed and reported during the regular assessment cycle. It is understood these outcomes will also be impacted or reshaped by the adjustments made due to the COVID-19 emergency; however, it is very important to document how and in what way they have been affected. As the assessment/unit plan reporting cycle approaches, the Institutional Assessment staff will be working with all of you to assist in a streamlined documentation process that will positively impact progress on our assessment initiatives. In addition please continue the college’s practice of documenting efforts and accomplishments of your areas beyond those outcomes noted in your assessment and unit plans. Document, document, document. Once we are past this crisis, the Hudson Valley campus community will have a valuable story to tell.
Finally, but most importantly, the SUNY COVID-19 memo also emphasizes how crucial shared governance involvement is in the process of effectively deciding which practices are most essential and which could be temporarily adjusted or suspended. SUNY also stressed that there should be clear direction from campus leadership in this effort. The collective work and support of the faculty, staff, and administration at HVCC are sincerely appreciated during this challenging time, and know that your efforts to document these impacts will greatly enhance the college’s ability to further support student success in the future through our on-going institutional assessment process.
Action Items:*
— With input from your supervisor and appropriate unit members, review your current practices to determine which are most essential at this time, and which could be temporarily adjusted or suspended and focus on essential services being provided.
— Focus on essential services being provided. Identify these essential outcomes/activities to be included (if they do not already exist) in the Plans in Nuventive and be assessed in the upcoming fall 2020 Assessment/Unit Plan process.
— Those outcomes and initiatives that have been delayed or terminated should be indicated as such in Nuventive as well at that time.
— Student learning outcomes assessment remains at the forefront of Hudson Valley’s assessment process and it is of the upmost importance that it will continue to be performed and reported during the regular assessment cycle. It is also very important to document how and in what way they have been affected.
— Continue the college’s practice of documenting efforts and accomplishments of your areas beyond those outcomes noted in your assessment and unit plans.
— Document, document, document.
*Please note that we have time between now and the regular annual reporting time (mid-fall 2020). It is not expected that you drop the essential services you are providing to adjust your Plans. We fully acknowledge and appreciate the Herculean efforts that everyone is making to serve our students during the COVID-19 crisis. Thank you!
And, as always, we are here to assist in any way.
Published: Fri, 15 May 2020 12:00:20 +0000 by m.geehan