Standard 2. Element Two: Data Collection, Analysis and Evaluation

As shown in Figure 1 at the beginning of the section, the Unit Assessment System also gathers data in others areas of Unit operations. Faculty data, program report data and budget data are also included in the assessment system. The Unit collects this data each semester and aggregates the data for analysis annually. Previously, the unit utilized a Microsoft Access database to collect data on candidates and relied on individuals to collect, compile and report the data. The implementation of CampusTools™ HigherEd, will make the process more systematic and uniform for all areas of the assessment system. CampusTools™ HigherEd has seven areas:

 

HigherEd has an extensive Assessment and Accountability System to allow detailed assessments of students at various levels of study. It contains a “Course Ware” system to assist instructors at the course level with course management, communication and course-based assessments. It also contains a sophisticated Electronic Portfolio System to support assessments at program levels.

 

HigherEd has extensive support for practical training and field experiences performed by students. It can be customized to include the names and locations of their field experience sites, names and qualifications of teachers supervising/imparting the training and a detailed set of records about the actual training itself, including dates, times and student journals recording their experiences.

 

As students go through field experiences, they complete customizable artifacts recording their training. The system allows them to obtain feedback from their supervisors and cooperating teachers or trainers. At the end of the field experience, students can be assessed on their training. They can also include the completed field experience artifacts in course binders or portfolios. All data regarding field experiences is aggregated into the system for future reporting.

 

HigherEd contains a detailed set of features to allow faculty advisors to advise their students. The system makes available to advisors the complete set of academic information on their advisees. This includes transcripts from previous courses attended, a list of courses being taken by an advisee student in the current semester, information about professional examinations taken and grades received and academic evaluations received by the student during her course of study. The system can allow qualified advisors to view graded student submissions and grades received in any course, if desired.

 

The system can also be configured for the completion requirements needed by a student for graduation. This can be customized per major or program at the college. Hence, during advisement, an advisor can view not only the academic achievements of a student and her scholastic strengths and weaknesses, but also the requirements mandated by the program of her field of study, thereby promoting immediate and informed advisement. The system also allows the advisor to record comments or observations made during advisement of the student

 

HigherEd allows faculty members to create surveys in the system using a simple wizard. In four easy steps, faculty members can choose which group of users to send the survey to, create survey questions and set a start and end date and time for the survey. Surveys allow users to gather data and generate reports on how recent graduates are doing, how effective a course or field experience is, how faculty members feel about their course load, etc.

 

Surveys created in HigherEd can be sent to users inside and outside of the system. Users outside the system will receive a link to the survey at their email addresses. Since surveys are online and quick to complete, surveys sent out in HigherEd boast a much higher rate of return than surveys sent via regular mail.

 

The system has a general document room where users, typically faculty and staff, can import and organize documents. It works with an easy, Explorer-like interface allowing creation and manipulation of documents within folders and sub-folders. All users with the privilege of using the document room are allowed to enter and view the documents stored here. The document room allows all relevant documents at a college to be imported and organized in a central location.

 

Any information in the HigherEd system can be used to generate reports. This includes data imported from student information systems such as BANNER, data provided on discs from test providers such as ETS and almost any other data provided in Microsoft Excel format. Data in the HigherEd system typically includes course assessment data, program assessment data, field experience data, student performance data, unit performance data, data on graduates, faculty vitae and specializations, data from surveys, student and faculty demographics, course loads, diversity information, advisement information, placement information, etc

 

The HigherEd system has extensive functionality to enable users to communicate with one another. Communication is organized in several different layers.

 

The system was designed to be customizable. Artifacts can be created based on the Unit’s needs and requirements. The full implementation of the Tk20, CampusTools™ HigherEd system will allow the unit to use technology to compile the data from multiple sources and centralize the collection for program improvement. Program faculty are collaborating to develop common assessments for candidates. Periodic review of the instruments used and the data collected will help to ensure that the methods used are free from bias and fair for all candidates. The adoption of the CampusTools™ HigherEd assessment system is vital as the Unit responds to the internal and external agencies that require reporting on the productivity of the Unit. The system maintains records for the unit, and for an unlimited period of time, graduates of the program will be able to access the assessments and artifacts that they have stored in the system. This will also assist the Unit with graduate follow-up and program improvement. The quality of the data will allow the unit to better utilize resources and improve the quality of is candidates and graduates. 

 

 

Virginia State University wants each student to have a positive educational experience. Formal procedures for student complaints are described in the University Student Handbook (Exhibit 2.1). Candidate complaints are addressed in the following fashion. Candidates and pre-candidates are first directed to try to resolve the issue with the faculty member. If a candidate reports a complaint to their advisor, the advisor will then direct them to submit a written complaint to the Associate Dean of the Professional Education Programs. Most candidate complaints are handled at this level and the Associate Dean maintains records of their resolution. Candidate complaints are taken very seriously by the Unit and every effort is made to resolve the issue within the Unit.