Third annual Assessment Day is April 9 at Marshall University

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University’s third annual Assessment Day, which is designed to determine how well the university is meeting its goals overall and by academic and service units, will take place Wednesday, April 9.

“Assessment is really at the heart of the teaching and learning process,” said Dr. Frances Hensley, associate vice president for academic affairs. “Marshall is unusual in dedicating a full day to this process.”

Classes will not meet as scheduled most of that day, which allows students, faculty, and staff to participate in Assessment Day activities. The normal class schedule resumes at 4 p.m. for late afternoon and evening classes.

Dr. Mary Beth Reynolds, Interim Director of Assessment, is heading up the Assessment Day activities this year. “We have a variety of activities scheduled throughout the day, and more are being added as we work up to the day of the event.”

Reynolds said that among the activities planned, some are university wide and some are departmental. University-wide activities include student satisfaction surveys by the admissions office, financial aid office, residence services, career services department, bursar’s office, student health services, the women’s center, and the registrar’s office; a student development survey by Student Affairs; an SGA survey; surveys from Sodexho and the MU Bookstore; surveys on individual services offered by University College; and a Major Expo. Departmental activities, which vary by unit, include “town hall” meetings for majors, portfolio presentations and exit interviews for seniors.

“Based on responses received from students to survey items last year, we were able to implement customer-service training for our staff and we reorganized our Web site,” said Roberta Ferguson, Marshall Registrar. “We are planning to participate again this year and hope to gain valuable insight from student responses.”

Reynolds said that she encourages everyone who participates Wednesday to complete an Assessment Day evaluation form, which will be available on the MyMU portal from April 14 – 18.  This will be used as a guide in planning future Assessment Days.

All students and faculty participating in Assessment Day activities will receive a free lunch catered by Buddy’s BBQ, Sodexho and Pepsi.  The Marshall University Fife and Drum Corps, under the direction of Dr. Wendell Dobbs, the 2007-2008 Drinko Fellow, will give a special performance at 12:15 p.m..  Also, students and faculty will be eligible to win prizes donated by area businesses and other groups.

The prizes include laptop computers with webcams, a Nintendo Wii, an iPod, a printer, rounds of golf, movie passes, gift certificates, a massage, and much more. 

“Assessment Day is an opportunity for faculty and students to evaluate the things they care about most: teaching and learning and the services that support those two,” Hensley said. “I can’t imagine that a student has no interest in providing feedback to his or her institution. Here is the chance.”

“The Assessment Day Committee has worked hard to put this event together and we welcome everyone’s input to help us build a better Marshall through assessment,” Reynolds said.

In addition to Reynolds, Hensley and Ferguson, committee members include from the faculty, Dr. Dallas Brozik, Dr. Marjorie Keatley, Dr. Cal Meyer, Dr. Caroline Perkins, Donna Robinson, and Dr. Larry Stickler; student David Kluemper; and staff members Karen Barker, Michelle Duncan, Dr. Karen Kirtley, Jenny Lauhon, Carla Lapelle, Molly McClennan, Homer Preece and Terri Tomblin-Byrd.

For more information, visit http://www.marshall.edu/assessment/AssessmentDay_2008.

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