Role & Activities

The Assessment Center is charged with creating a culture-of-evidence within Student Affairs. Dedicated to providing services and support to units charged with systematically self-monitoring program activity, we

• facilitate workshops that build the skill-base needed to successfully evaluate programs;
• provide access to current information on outcomes assessment, performance measurement, and evaluation through our website http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/assess/index.html and research library;
• offer opportunities to collaborate with academic units to advance the practice of outcomes assessment;
• offer a non-academic-credit certificate program to fortify the assessment capacity and professional development of Student Affairs professionals.

Goals

When we are successful,

• Evidence-based decision making will be a routine part of Student Affairs’ operating philosophy and practice such that we exhibit a “culture of evidence.” Most (but not necessarily all) decisions will be informed by data obtained through the assessment process. 
• Programs and services will be self-assessors with staff who are knowledgeable and can identify the skills and tools needed to perpetually evaluate program performance.
• Staff members, including Assessment Center Committee Members, responsible for assessment will keep their skills up-to-date with regular training.