ACPA Student Affairs Assessment Institute

June 16-18, 2011
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Register Online

Early Bird Registration ends May 16, 2011

Overview of Institute

In the last two decades, legislative bodies, students, and parents have demanded greater accountability from higher education. Colleges, community colleges, and universities are being asked to provide evidence that students are reaching the outcomes promised by their institution.

Student affairs divisions are not exempt from this challenge. We, too, are called upon to assess the impact our programs and services have on students in areas such as leadership development, critical thinking, ethical development, and interpersonal relations. And while student affairs professionals often learn basic research and assessment skills in their graduate programs, many find themselves looking to publications and organizations such as ACPA for guidance in further developing the skills and knowledge necessary to do assessment. By combining assessment with accountability, student affairs professionals can be more successful in improving their students’ education.

The 2011 ACPA Student Affairs Assessment Institute has been designed to meet these critical continuing education needs to promote the success of student affairs professionals. The three-day conference is organized around the ASK (Assessment Skills and Knowledge) Standards developed by ACPA and endorsed by assessment experts on staff at the Association of American College and Universities, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. As a common professional foundation for the assessment skills and knowledge expected of student affairs professionals, the thirteen ASK standards and three thematic clusters offer a roadmap for professional development.

During the course of the three day institute, you will experience a curriculum to help you create an individualized assessment plan from beginning to end. Plenary and smaller group sessions will provide you the tools necessary to create an assessment plan, while faculty in residence and your cohort of colleagues will guide you in managing issues unique to your situation.

Intended Outcomes - 2011 ACPA Assessment Institute

The primary purpose of this institute is to build our individual and collective capacity to conduct assessment in student affairs. Toward that end, the institute will bring together scholars, assessment experts, and student affairs practitioners of all career levels, institutional types and functional areas within student affairs. After participating in this institute you will be able to:

• Implement an assessment plan from start to finish;
• Develop new assessment skills that you will use when conducting student affairs assessment projects on your home campus;
• Increase your confidence in assessment;
• Describe other student affairs assessment projects conducted in a variety of institutional types and functional areas that will help you in your own assessment work;
• Develop relationships with student affairs professionals from a variety of institution types;
• Address assessment issues specific to your institution;
• Develop contacts with student affairs professionals from a variety of institutional types who are committed to learning about and implementing assessment projects; and
• Address specific institution-based assessment issues by consulting with an assessment professional.

Intended Audience

The institute is designed specifically for student affairs professionals who are new to assessment, but may or may not be new to student affairs.

Although all attendees share a common interest in learning about the basics of higher education assessment and the skills associated with making strong inferences about the learning that takes place due to developmental and experiential programming, past institute participants have represented a diverse cross-section of the profession, including:

• Student affairs professionals at all levels — entry, mid-level, and senior student affairs officers
• Graduate faculty
• Academic administrators
• Graduate students in student affairs, higher education administration, or other related programs

Importantly, this is a working institute for those who are new to assessment, and, as such, attendees can expect to leave the institute with many of the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct assessments back on their home campuses. Please note that the institute is only open to higher education professionals from regionally or nationally accredited institutions.

Faculty in Residence

Randy L. Swing, Executive Director of the Association for Institutional Research

Schedule

The ACPA Assessment Institute is a curriculum-based learning experience designed to ensure attendees leave Chicago with the assessment skills and knowledge necessary to begin crafting quality assessment programs on their home campuses. The Institute schedule reflects this curriculum-based philosophy on assessment education: Sessions build off one another and attendees learn assessment techniques within the context of actual assessment questions and issues that are generalizable to their home institutions.

For travel purposes, the Institute begins at 8:00am on Thursday, June 16, 2011 and ends at 12:30pm on Saturday, June 18, 2011. We suggest that attendees arrive on Wednesday night and book flights that depart after 2pm on Saturday, June 18, 2011.

Registration Information

Register Online | Download the registration form (PDF, 125KB)

Payment and Cancellation Policy

Registrations can be paid by check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. All fees must be prepaid. Purchase orders are not accepted. Refunds will be given for cancellations, received in writing at ACPA by June 1, 2011 less a US$55 processing fee. After June 1st, there are no refunds. ACPA reserves the right to charge a service fee of US$50 for returned checks. A processing fee of US$50 per registration will be charged for credit cards declined or to change payment methods after the initial payment is processed. Registrations are non-transferable. The conference may be cancelled or postponed due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. In this case, the fees will be fully refunded; however, ACPA will not be responsible for other additional costs, charges or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines and/or travel agencies.

ASK Standards Booklet

The ASK Standards serve as a foundation to the ACPA Student Affairs Assessment Conference. You may wish to obtain a copy of the standards to bring to the conference with you. Copies of the ASK Standards are free to ACPA members. You can obtain your version by going here.

Lodging Information

The host hotel for this year’s institute is the Hilton Suites - Chicago/Magnificent Mile, 198 East Delaware Place, Chicago, Illinois 60611. Phone Number: 312.664.1100. The negotiated rate is $179.00 a night (single occupancy) and $209.00 (double occupancy). Attendees can register by calling the hotel at the number above or by clicking on the link below:

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/O/ORDMDHF-CPA-20110615/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

Be sure to mention the “ACPA Student Affairs Assessment Institute” to receive the discounted rate. Rooms must be reserved by May 20, 2011 to ensure that you will receive the institute rate.

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll find magic in such sparkling Chicago attractions as Navy Pier — the Midwest’s top tourist destination — and its boardwalk, 150-foot Ferris wheel, boat and segway tours, and countless dining or shopping options. Millennium Park offers dazzling music, art, landscape design and architecture — including the mammoth stainless-steel Cloud Gate sculpture — plus ice skating in the winter, splashing around in the interactive Crown Fountain during summer, and alfresco dining from spring to fall.

Chicago looks great from every angle, whether you’re exploring the city’s astonishing architecture during a guided tour (on foot or aboard a Chicago River boat, lakeshore cruise or sightseeing bus) or you’re enjoying the birds-eye view from the 103rd floor of Skydeck Chicago in the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) and the 94th floor Hancock Observatory. The city’s 29 miles of lakefront paths are just one reason Chicago is one of the world’s most walkable and beautiful cities.

Chicago is often called a friendly city — and you’ll agree when you accept the city’s warm invitation to sample such free attractions as Lincoln Park Zoo, home to more than 1,000 mammals, reptiles, and birds. Enjoy the peaceful gardens under glass at Garfield Park Conservatory and Lincoln Park Conservatory, or take in one of the free performances at Navy Pier. To make sure you don’t miss out on anything the city has to offer, make your very first stop the Chicago Cultural Center — Chicago’s Architectural Showplace for the Lively and Visual Arts and the city’s official Visitor Center.

More information is available here.

Transportation

Chicago-O'Hare International Airport

• Distance from hotel: 15 mi.
• Drive time: 45 min.

Directions: I-90 to 90/94 E towards Chicago. 90/94 to Ohio St. exit. Exit East & take Ohio to Michigan Ave. Turn left to the John Hancock Bldg. turn Rt. on Delaware and 1st stop sign left. The hotel's main entrance of Delaware & Mies Van der Rohe Way.

Transportation to and from the Airport

Ground transportation information for O'Hare

Be daring and take the subway!

Chicago Midway Airport

• Distance from hotel: 12 mi.
• Drive time: 30 min.

Directions: Cicero Ave. N to Stevenson Expy (55) N towards Chgo. (55) to Dan Ryan Expy (94) W. Dan Ryan merges with Kennedy Expy (90/94) Exit Ohio St. East to Michigan Ave. turn left to John Hancock Bldg. go Rt. on Delaware and 1st stop sign left.

Transportation to and from the Airport

Ground transportation information for Midway

Be daring and take the subway!

Conference Attire

The attire for this conference is business casual.

Contact Information

For questions, contact Vernon A. Wall, Director of Educational Programs & Publications at 1 202 835 2272.