Assessment Advancement Grants

The goal of the Assessment Advancement Grants program is to provide financial support to academic departments and programs for the purpose of enhancing student learning assessment strategies and continuous improvement efforts to ensure that student learning outcomes are effectively measured and improved. This initiative addresses Goal 2.2 of the Harvest Our Treasures Strategic Plan: Strive to ensure that all academic programs meet the rigorous standards applicable to their disciplines.

This program provides grants of up to $5,000 to support various expenses related to assessment improvements, such as to implement new assessment methods, engage stakeholders, enhance existing strategies, to perform curriculum modifications in alignment with assessment results, and integrate technology for data collection and analysis. Thus, the purchasing of assessment tools or software that facilitates efficient data collection and reporting is allowable. Faculty stipends are not supported, but training and professional development opportunities for faculty members related to assessment best practices and data interpretation are supported. Collaborative initiatives that encourage cross-departmental sharing of assessment experiences and strategies are encouraged.

Eligibility Criteria
All academic departments and programs are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate broad support for the ideas they propose though chair or program director endorsement of the application.

Application Process
Applicants should complete the online application. As part of the application, departments or programs interested in applying for funding should submit a proposal outlining their assessment enhancement plan and how the funds will be utilized. Proposals should highlight the current assessment practices, identified areas for improvement, and the expected impact on student learning outcomes. Applications will be reviewed by the Office of Assessment to evaluate the proposals and allocate funds based on the merit of the proposals.

Reporting and Accountability

• Recipients of the funding will be required to submit a brief report describing the results of their assessment advancement initiatives.
• Reports should include data on the impact of the initiatives on student learning outcomes and continuous improvement efforts.