Evaluating Assessment Quality at the Institutional Level: A Look at Civic Engagement and Intercultural Competency

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 30
  In Roundtable Session: Institutional Approaches to Higher Education Assessment

Abstract

The value of a college education extends well beyond what can be learned from a textbook. Equally important is how students grow and develop. In addition to cognitive skills like critical thinking and written communication, employers and higher education institutions are becoming increasingly interested in non-cognitive skills like civic engagement and intercultural competency. Unfortunately, these non-cognitive constructs are difficult to define and even more difficult to assess. As a result, while many institutions want to answer important questions about their students’ competencies in these areas, meaningful information at the institutional level is lacking—and without this information, it is nearly impossible to make informed changes that lead to improved student learning.

Authors

• Andrea Pope, James Madison University

• Ross Edward Markle, Educational Testing Service