West Virginia University

Student Affairs Evaluation, Assessment & Training

Assessment Guiding Principles

WVU Student Affairs believes that assessment practices vary between institutions, divisions and units. However, guiding principles for assessment are often similar. For that reason, WVU Student Affairs unit heads examined a variety of guiding principles, including the 9 principles that were developed under the auspices of American Association for Higher Education (AAHE) Assessment Forum when developing their own. In September 2004, the following 10 guiding principles for WVU Student Affairs assessment were developed and adopted by the division?s deans, directors, and vice president.

  1. Assessment is based on WVU?s stated vision, mission, and goals, WVU Student Affairs mission and goals, and individual unit objectives.
  2. The primary purpose of WVU Student Affairs assessment is to provide evidence of program quality, student learning and student development.
  3. WVU Student Affairs recognizes that learning is multidimensional; therefore, our assessment practices provide equal opportunities for students of varied backgrounds and learning styles to demonstrate what they have learned.
  4. Assessment uses multiple methods of data collection since no single assessment strategy is perfect.
  5. Members of each Student Affairs unit are responsible for determining assessment methods that demonstrate progress toward stated program goals.
  6. Assessment is a collaborative effort involving faculty, staff, students, administrators, and the community.
  7. Assessment is a process for ongoing, regular, and continuous improvement of student learning, services, and programs.
  8. Assessment results are not used punitively against students, faculty, staff, administrators, or programming efforts, but rather to promote positive organizational or programmatic change when warranted.
  9. Assessment allows WVU Student Affairs to promote an understanding, acceptance, and appreciation of our profession, which in turn allows others to value and benefit from our expertise on student learning.
  10. Assessment results are communicated appropriately to improve student learning.

Click on this link to for a detailed explanation of AAHE?s guiding principles. AAHE Guiding Principles