Co-curricular/Special Programs: A Guide to the Annual Assessment Report

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. Why does my program have to submit an assessment report?

Mānoa is committed to improving student learning through program assessment. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) defines co-curricular learning as "learning that takes place in activities and programs that are not part of the prescribed sequence of courses in an academic program" (WASC Handbook on Accreditation, p. 55). Therefore, programs and offices that directly support students' academic success and cognitive development but whose efforts are not included in any academic degree program's annual assessment report are asked to submit. If you believe an error has been made, contact the Assessment Office.

2. How does an annual report help my program?

The annual report assists programs in documenting assessment activities over time. More than once the Assessment Office has heard, “[name removed] did all of the assessment and when he retired last year he took all his asseessment files with him.” The annual reports are available in an accessible location on our website.

3. What is done with my report?

Reports are posted on the Assessment Office website. The Assessment Office uses the information in several ways. The Assessment Office

  1. locates examples of exemplary assessment practices that it can share (a program’s permission is sought before the Assessment Office uses it as an example);
  2. identifies issues and concerns that need attention and uses those to guide Assessment Office program development (e.g., when an analysis of reports reveals the need for more attention to collecting evidence the Assessment Office offers workshops on that topic);
  3. summarizes the reports and conveys that summary to the Faculty Senate and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The summary serves as primary support in Mānoa’s case for re-accreditation and meets reporting requirements set by WASC.
To date, the assessment reports have not been used by administration as part of prioritization or budgeting. The administration has stressed that assessment results should be used at the program level by the program faculty. The Assessment Office believes faculty consultation should take place before assessment becomes part of prioritization and budgeting.
4. When is my program’s report due?

Friday, October 14, 2011

5. Do I include information from May 2010? Or earlier?

The 2011 annual report includes the time period June 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011.

6. Our program submitted an evaluation report to our funding agency this year. Can I submit that?

Yes. Please prune appropriately, submitting only sections that pertain to assessment.

7. We didn't do any assessment between June 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011. Do we still have to submit a report?

Yes. You can still input responses for Questions 1-3 and answer Question 13.

8. Where do I go to input my program's report?

Click on Login: Special Programs

9. What username and passowrd do I use?

UH Username and Password

10. Ive tried to log in and it tells me I'm not an authorized user, now what?

Contact the Assessment Office.

Click here for a list of authorized users.

11. Can I upload the activity map as a Word document or Excel file instead of a PDF?

No. In an effort to avoid viruses, bugs, and other infections, only PDF files should be uploaded. If you need assistance converting a file to PDF, please contact IT personnel or the Assessment Office.

12. Can I go back and edit the report after I submit it?

Yes! You have until October 21, 2011 to make changes to your report.

13. What if I don’t have time to complete it in one sitting?

No problem. Each answer is saved when you press "next" or "save." When you need to leave, press "save and quit," log out, and finish another time. Caution: Jumping to a question will NOT save your answer.

14. Are resources or examples available to help me complete the report?

 

updated 08/30/2011