Conduct Program and/or Service Assessment

A series of broad questions serve to develop our thinking about assessment. Moreover, they are important in terms of creating a fuller understanding of our programs and/or services and how they fit into the strategic plan. Asking background questions (e.g. examining educational trends, exploring issues affecting the system, social concerns, basic difficulties) is a good way to start a plan.

1. Examine the Mission Statement for the program and/or service. Does it logically follow from from one or more of the Student Affairs’ Strategic Initiatives?
   
   
2. Are the stated outcomes tightly aligned with the goals of the mission statement/strategic plan?
   
   
3. Do the anticipated results of the assessment plan easily speak to the theoretical learning outcomes of the program and/or service?
   
   
4. Do the anticipated results demonstrate that USC measures meaningful learning outcomes? Try to get information that is compelling, and abundant in persuasive appeal.
   
   
5. Are the collaborative relationships (if any) clearly identified and taken into consideration when developing the assessment effort?
   
   
6. What does best practices information tell us about the way we do business?
   
   
7. How much is this going to cost?
   
   
8. What are our needs and who are our stakeholders?