Harper earns national Excellence in Assessment designation

Harper College is one of five colleges and universities – and the only community college – to be named a 2018 Excellence in Assessment designee.

Just 20 institutions nationwide hold the national designation for successfully integrating assessment practices across campus and using those results to guide institutional decision-making and improve student performance.

Other 2018 Excellence in Assessment designees recognized by the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment are Bowie State University, Mississippi State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Harper received the designation based on its strong work in general education assessment and improvement, its use of research and best practices, and its inclusion of a wide variety of stakeholders.

The Excellence in Assessment program noted that Harper “using its assessment management system to assist with the integration of multiple data sources as evidence to improve student learning on its campus is just one example of integration at Harper.”

Darlene Schlenbecker, Executive Director for Planning, Research and Institutional Effectiveness, credited the collaborative work and leadership of the Outcomes Assessment Office, led by Associate Director Faon Grandinetti, and the Learning Assessment Committee.

“The EIA designation is an incredible honor and reflects the College’s focus on teaching and learning,” Schlenbecker said. “These groups work diligently to engage College faculty and staff in meaningful, relevant assessment centered on improving student learning and academic achievement.”