Assessment Report FAQ & Help

FAQs

New for 2024:

  • We continue to use a Google Sheet plus a Google Form to collect the assessment report information.
  • As an assessment coordinator, you will receive the Google Sheet link and Google Form links via email.
  • In 2024 report, there are new questions asking programs to report equity-minded assessment practices. You can preview the report questions in this Google Doc. Click ʻUse Templateʻ to make a copy for your own use.

1. Where do I input my program’s report?

Report will open in September. The assessment report links were unique to each program.  Assessment Coordinators receive the report links in their email from airo@hawaii.edu. Email airo@hawaii.edu if you have any difficulties accessing the report.

2. Deadline?

The 2024 deadline: Friday, November 8, 2024.

Edits allowed until Friday, January 24, 2025.

3. What information is needed to complete the report?

Preview/download the questions (Google Doc)

4. Can I see what others are doing? Where are previous reports?

Yes. Go here: Reports: View By Years or View by Program Names

5. Do you have examples or ways to get help?

Yes! We are here to help.

6. Why do we submit reports? How does the report help my program?

The report assists programs in documenting assessment activities and evidence-based curriculum changes. More than once the we have heard that assessment coordinators left UHM and took assessment files with them. The reports are available in an easily accessible location on our website.

The report keeps the program on track for Program Review. The Program Review process requires a review of the program’s assessment activities and evidence-based curriculum changes. Your program’s assessment reports are automatically submitted as part of the department’s self-study, and they are given to the external reviewers. Note: program with professional accreditation are exempted from UHM Program Review.

The reports provide evidence for UHM’s accreditation reaffirmation (program-level learning assessment is required)

7. What is done with the reports?

The Assessment and Curriculum Support Center uses the information in several ways. Our Center

  1. locates examples of exemplary assessment practices that it can share with the faculty-at-large (a program’s permission is sought before the Assessment and Curriculum Support Center uses it as an example);
  2. identifies issues and concerns that need attention and uses those to guide our office’s program development (e.g., when an analysis of reports reveals the need for more attention to curriculum mapping, the Assessment and Curriculum Support Center offers workshops on that topic);
  3. summarizes the reports and conveys that summary to the Faculty Senate, Vice Provost for Academic Excellence, 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. See the campus summary reports.
  4. conveys the reports to the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Excellence for use as part of Program Review.

To date, the assessment results (e.g., learning achievement results) have not been used by administration as part of prioritization or budgeting. The Assessment and Curriculum Support Center believes faculty consultation must take place before assessment results become part of prioritization and budgeting. Furthermore, the Faculty Senate’s 2010 resolution on Faculty Governance of Assessment stipulates that program-level learning outcomes assessment not be used for high-stakes decisions.

8. Who can see my report?

All reports will be publicly available.

9. Do we need to submit a report if we didn’t do any assessment during the period specified?

Do I submit a program for newly approved degree programs?

Yes. Please update/answer the appropriate questions in the Google Sheet and Form; in addition, justify why no assessment activities occurred (last question of the Google Form).

10. I don’t have access to my report.

If you do not have access, contact the Assessment and Curriculum Support Center at airo@hawaii.edu.

11. My program doesn’t show up.

If you do not find your program, contact the Assessment and Curriculum Support Center at airo@hawaii.edu.

12. Can I go back and edit, modify, or add to the report?

Yes! You can modify your report until the deadline.

Important: Press “Submit” before leaving the Google Form to save your responses.

The Google Sheet saves automatically.

13. Can I submit the report we gave to our professional accrediting agency?

Sorry, no. However, you can cut and paste the appropriate sections from the accreditation report into your assessment report.

14. Do I have to enter separate reports for EACH degree program? Why?

Yes. The goal of assessment is improved student learning and improved programs. For assessment to achieve its goal, a program needs assessment results that are specific to that program so it can make appropriate adjustments as necessary. Thus, the reports are by degree program.

If similar activities occurred in your degree programs, you may copy and paste responses from one Google Form to another. Then, modify the information as needed. Remember to press “Submit” to save your responses.

Contact the Assessment and Curriculum Support Center to discuss your particular situation.

15. Can I get feedback? When?

Yes. Near the end of the Google Form, you’ll be asked if you want to receive feedback (note: this appears only when the program has conducted assessment activities).

Faculty volunteers will read your report and provide feedback. Typically, feedback is distributed in February.

If you want feedback on a draft report, email airo@hawaii.edu or directly contact Yao Hill (yaozhang@hawaii.edu) or MB Ogawa (ogawam@hawaii.edu).