Advancing Best Practices in Student Affairs Outcomes Assessment-Presented by ACPA's Commission for Assessment & Evaluation (CAE)

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This webinar introduces a rubric designed to align with student affairs professional standards while explicitly integrating student-centered considerations into each phase of the assessment process. Developed as part of a broader change management effort, this rubric serves as both an entry point for those new to assessment and a structured tool for providing feedback to colleagues. We will discuss the development of the rubric, its theoretical grounding, and its role in promoting a rigorous approach to student affairs assessment. Additionally, we will showcase two key applications: (1) a rater training "boot camp" in the summer, where staff are trained to evaluate actual assessment reports using mock examples and student-centered resources, and (2) a monthly professional development series designed to guide and enhance assessment practice. Empirical findings on the effectiveness of these approaches (Finney et al., 2024; Wild et al., 2024) will be shared, along with free access to the rubric, training reports, and support materials. This webinar is presented by ACPA's Commission for Assessment & Evaluation (CAE).

Registration Fees:

Complimentary for ACPA Individual Members

$10 for ACPA Chapter Only Members

$10 for Non-Members

$5 for International Non-Members (must currently reside outside the continental United States and Hawaii)

ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies:

Webinar participants will develop their professional competencies in the areas of: Assessment, Evaluation, and Research. For more information about the ACPA/NASPA Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners, visit our website.

Learning Outcomes:

As a result of participating in this webinar, participants will be able to:

Describe equity-centered considerations at each step of the outcomes assessment cycle
Advocate for the utility of a meta-assessment rubric to guide assessment practice
Explore strategies for integrating the rubric into their own institutional assessment efforts

Presenters:

Sara J. Finney, Ph.D.

Since 2001, Dr. Finney has been providing outcomes assessment-related support to professionals in the Division of Student Affairs at James Madison University. Currently, she oversees the Student Affairs Assessment Support Services (SASS) team. SASS aims to enhance the assessment capacity of student affairs professionals who coordinate programs with student learning and development outcomes. Fulfillment of this mission occurs via direct consultation, educational activities, and the dissemination of scholarly work relevant to assessment practices. Dr. Finney's work evaluating the effectiveness of university educational programming has garnered 6 national awards from the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Association (NASPA). Dr. Finney has published over 90 articles and chapters (cited over 13,000 times), with graduate students co-authoring over 75% of these publications. She also contributed to the revision of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (i.e., CAS Standards). Her research involves the incorporation of program theory and implementation fidelity during the outcomes assessment process, the study of test-taking motivation and emotions during institutional accountability testing, and the application of latent variable modeling techniques to better understand the measurement of psychoeducational constructs. Her research has appeared in such journals as Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, Research & Practice in Assessment, Educational and Psychological Measurement, Applied Measurement in Education, and Educational Assessment.

Jonathan Stewart, Ph.D.

Jonathan Stewart serves as the Director for Finance, IT and Assessment for the Division of Student Affairs at James Madison University. Within the Vice President’s office, he provides leadership and oversight on matters related to finance, IT and assessment. Jonathan also teaches designing thinking in the JMU X-Labs. He previously served as an assistant professor of theatre and as the arts administration specialist for James Madison University’s School of Theatre and Dance. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance, his MBA from Seton Hill University, and a Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership Studies from James Madison University. His research interests include arts-based pedagogy, ethical reasoning, leadership development, design thinking, and change management.

Sarah LaFrance, M.A.
Sarah LaFrance is an Assessment Specialist in the Division of Student Affairs at James Madison University (JMU), where she supports departments in leveraging student data, conducting outcomes assessment, and engaging in program evaluation to enhance student learning and success. Prior to serving in this capacity Sarah has also held positions in career services and residence life. An active leader within ACPA, Sarah serves as a Directorate Board Member for the Commission for Assessment and Evaluation, co-chairing the Scholarship Committee. Additionally, Sarah served as a faculty member and track chair for the ACPA Assessment Institute in 2022. In recognition of her contributions to the field, Sarah was honored with the ACPA Annuit Coeptis Emerging Professionals Award in 2024. Sarah holds a Master of Education in Student Affairs Administration from Appalachian State University and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. Sarah is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership Studies at JMU with research interests focusing on fostering a culture of evidence in student affairs, leader data literacy, and the intersection of assessment and strategic leadership.

Advancing Best Practices in Student Affairs Outcomes Assessment-Presented by ACPA's Commission for Assessment & Evaluation (CAE)

Thursday July 17 2025, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

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