{"id":15198,"date":"2024-10-18T16:23:45","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T20:23:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/149.4.100.129\/ie\/?page_id=15198"},"modified":"2025-03-27T11:14:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T15:14:45","slug":"guiding-principles","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/oie\/assessment\/guiding-principles\/","title":{"rendered":"Guiding Principles"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/oie\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2024\/10\/QC-Campus-12-e1729470613140.jpeg” alt=”QC Campus” title_text=”QC Campus” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ custom_padding=”40px||40px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Why Assess?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Assessment provides a clear conceptualization of our goals, an understanding of how these goals are aligned to the strategies meant to accomplish them, a plan for how we will know whether our goals are being met, and confirmation on whether and where current practices are working the way we intended.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#efefef” custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dsm_text_divider header=”Guiding Principles” text_alignment=”left” color=”#E71939″ divider_weight=”3px” admin_label=”Supreme Text Divider” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#000000″ module_alignment=”left” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dsm_text_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Open Sans||||||||” text_text_color=”#cc1631″ text_font_size=”16px” header_4_font=”Open Sans|600|||on||||” header_4_text_color=”#E71939″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

1. Assessment is meaningful<\/em><\/span><\/strong> when it begins with genuine questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Assessment is effective<\/em><\/strong><\/span> when activities are designed to be manageable and sustainable.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Assessment findings are reliable<\/em><\/strong><\/span> when they are based on multiple measures.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Assessment can be transformative<\/em><\/strong><\/span> when it promotes knowledge-exchange through collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Assessment leads to improvement<\/em><\/strong><\/span> when it is part of an ongoing process of inquiry, experimentation, and reflection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][dsm_text_divider header=”Key Differences ” text_alignment=”left” color=”#E71939″ divider_weight=”3px” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#000000″ module_alignment=”left” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dsm_text_divider][et_pb_accordion open_toggle_text_color=”#333333″ open_toggle_background_color=”#ffffff” closed_toggle_text_color=”#b83751″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” icon_color=”#e71939″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” toggle_text_color=”#000000″ toggle_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” closed_toggle_font=”|600|||||||” body_font=”Open Sans||||||||” body_text_color=”#000000″ border_color_all=”#000000″ box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_vertical=”1px” box_shadow_blur=”6px” box_shadow_spread=”2px” box_shadow_color=”#C0C0C0″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Assessment vs. Research” open=”on” open_toggle_text_color=”#E71939″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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Assessment and research are similar in many ways: Both involve asking questions, collecting data, and analyzing results. Like research, assessment activities may use quantitative or qualitative research methods, and benefits from a mixed methods approach.<\/p>\n

However, the goal of research is to confirm or challenge hypotheses to guide theory, whereas the goal of assessment is to produce reasonably accurate information about how well we are meeting our goals and guide local practice.\u00a0 Many factors limit the scope and impact of assessment: time, resources, implementation, etc.. As such, assessment findings typically have implications for a single course, program, institution, or cohort, whereas research findings have broader implications.<\/p>\n

Faculty, staff, and administrators make decisions regularly, and decisions are best informed by evidence. Good assessment practices encourage us to be more thoughtful and intentional about how we influence the student experience.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Assessment<\/th>\nResearch<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Localized findings<\/td>\nGeneralizable findings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Guides practice<\/td>\nGuides theory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Does not require IRB<\/td>\nRequires IRB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Assuming assessment findings will not be published, activities that are conducted for internal decision-making do not require IRB review. <\/span>IRB approval is required for generalizable research involving human subjects. See<\/span>\u00a0CUNY\u2019s policies on Human Research<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Assessment vs. Grading” open_toggle_text_color=”#E71939″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_text_color=”#333333″ open=”off”]<\/p>\n

Grading is the analysis and use of data by faculty to make judgments about an individual student\u2019s performance. Assessment, on the other hand, is a way to measure student learning overall and guide decisions about student learning within a course or program.<\/p>\n

Grading plays an important role in assessment, as grades can provide useful evidence of student learning when they are based on direct measures (exams, projects, papers, etc.) that are linked to course learning goals. However, assessment goes beyond grading by examining patterns of student learning and using this information to improve educational practices at the course and program level.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Assessment<\/th>\nGrading<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Ongoing<\/td>\nFinal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Process-oriented (how students learn)<\/td>\nProduct-oriented (what students learned)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diagnostic: identify areas for improvement<\/td>\nJudgmental: assign a letter grade<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Assessment vs. Accreditation” open_toggle_text_color=”#E71939″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” open=”off”]<\/p>\n

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Accreditation is a process by which an educational institution is certified by an independent body to award certificates and degrees. The process was established nearly a century ago to foster a common set of educational standards among secondary schools and universities.<\/p>\n

But while accreditation self studies aim to demonstrate that fiscal and human resources are being invested responsibly, faculty and staff conduct assessment to improve programs and practice. Assessment findings are an important part of the accreditation process as a key source of the evidence that we provide to our accreditation bodies, but the primary focus of assessment is to inform local decisions pertaining to courses, majors, programs, and support offices, whereas accreditation activities are meant to inform external reviewers.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Assessment<\/th>\nAccreditation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Ongoing<\/td>\nPeriodic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Informs local practice<\/td>\nInforms external reviewers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Focuses on self-improvement\u00a0<\/td>\nFocuses on institutional quality<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Queens College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). See our 2017 MSCHE Self-Study here<\/a>, or learn about our 2026 MSCHE Self-Study process here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dsm_text_divider header=”Other Considerations” text_alignment=”left” color=”#E71939″ divider_weight=”3px” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#000000″ module_alignment=”left” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dsm_text_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion closed_toggle_text_color=”#b83751″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” icon_color=”#E71939″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” toggle_font=”||||||||” closed_toggle_font=”||||||||” border_color_all=”#A9A9A9″ box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_vertical=”1px” box_shadow_blur=”6px” box_shadow_spread=”1px” box_shadow_color=”#e2e2e2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Who Conducts Assessment?” open=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n