The express goal of assessment is continuous improvement of student learning and enhancement of instruction. Assessment process presents important opportunities for faculty to discuss various aspects of the curriculum in terms of what’s working, what’s not working, strengths, challenges, and opportunities. It gives faculty, in every department and school, a forum to reflect on and have conversations about what they do and can do to assist their students achieve the knowledge, skills/abilities and attitudes they, as faculty, have determined as vital for their degree and certificate programs. In light of this, assessment process is not meant to be about demonstrating perfection, evaluating faculty performance or a means to see who or what program to blame. Further, it is crucial that all faculty who are a part of a given degree and/or certificate program participate as a team in the assessment process.
