Assessment Bootcamp Fall 2012
“Telling Our Story”
Friday, November 30 from 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Southwest Recreational Center

Assessment Boot Camp Learning Outcomes:

1. Participants will understand what it means to tell their story
2. Participants will understand how to utilize assessment to tell their story
3. Participants will understand how to design and construct the best method of data assessment and collection in order to tell their story
4. Participants will understand how to tell their story using the data they’ve collected through their assessments
5. Participants will have an understanding of the best practices currently on campus

Schedule

11-11:30 a.m.: Bootcamp Basics
Check-in & Lunch available (SWRec Social Lounge)
Please check-in and mix-and-mingle with other participants over lunch in the lounge area.

11:30-11:55 a.m.: We Do Assessment to Tell Our Story
Understanding What It Means to Tell Our Story (SWRec Lobby)
Keynote Speaker: Jeanna Mastrodicasa, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs

Noon-12:50 p.m.: What to Use to Get the Information You Want
Designing An Assessment Project from Start to Finish (Arena Conference Room)
Before conducting any assessment, it is important to create an effective plan for your assessment project that helps to conserve resources and focus assessment efforts. This session will highlight the significance of beginning assessment projects with the end in mind to achieve better results and more useable data. At the conclusion of this session, use this information to make sure your assessment projects achieve the intended purpose.

Why Is Assessment Relevant Right Now? (Activity Room 3)
Three panelists will provide participants broader university-wide research and its relevancy to the departments within the division. Learn more about what information the Office of Institutional Planning and Research collects and how this may be useful in the assessment you are conducting. Learn more about the Southern Accreditation of Colleges and Schools, Student Experience at a Research University, etc. Our panelists will include Jeanna Mastrodicasa (UF Assistant VP Student Affairs), Jennifer Cortes (UF Senior Statistical Analyst for the Office of Institutional Planning and Research), and Noelle Mecoli ((UF Senior Statistical Analyst for the Office of Institutional Planning and Research).

1-1:50 p.m.: Designing, Constructing, & Implementation
Survey Design (Skybox Conference Room) – limited to 14 people only (first come, first served)
This session will address both the process and content for designing and implementing survey methodology. We will discuss timeline, questionnaire construction, response formats, obtaining useable survey responses, and data collection strategies. The session is a good refresher for folks who already use survey methodology and a good introduction for those who want to get started, but don’t know where or how to begin. 

Focus Groups (Arena Conference Room)
Focus groups provide an efficient method of gathering valuable qualitative data. The presenters will provide an overview of this methodology, including considerations such as sampling, question development, group facilitation, and analysis options. The session will specifically address how focus groups have been used for assessment in student affairs at the guest presenter’s institution. 

Creative Ways to Present Results (Activity Room 3)
Now that you have already collected the data from your assessment, this session will provide some insight into some creative strategies that might assist you with telling your story.

2:00-2:50pm: What to Do With the Data Once You Collect It
Writing Reports and Sharing Assessment Results (Arena Conference Room)
Sharing assessment results is a great practice to get staff and student buy-in with the assessment process, improve assessment practices, and learn from one another. Once data is collected, analysis and reporting of data are necessary to receive the full benefits of assessment efforts. This session examines the theoretical strategies for creating effective assessment efforts, including traditional methods of reporting and representing quantitative and qualitative data. This session will also illustrate tips and best practice examples for creative methods for sharing your data with various audiences moving beyond traditional reporting efforts.

Analyzing the Qualitative Results from Your Data Collection (Activity Room 3)
This advanced session will provide great insight into how to analyze, interpret and tell your departments story through the collected qualitative assessment that you have collected.

3-4:30 p.m.: What Are Others in the Division Already Doing Well?
Best Practices for Assessment in the Division of Student Affairs (Activity Room 3)
Presentations from: Heather White (Career Resource Center), David Bowles (Recreational Sports), Maureen Miller (GatorWell), Jean Starobin (Reitz Union), and Jeanna Mastrodicasa (Division of Student Affairs)

4:30 p.m.: Adjourn