University Assessment Committee

The University Assessment Committee (UAC) identifies assessment goals for the University, provides discussion and assistance in the development of assessment tools, and assists with creating a culture of assessment at GCU.  The membership of this committee is representative of the diversity of GCU’s colleges and departments.  The individual committee members work collaboratively to identify and develop assessment tools, and serve as liaisons in communicating assessment strategies and building a culture of assessment in their respective colleges or departments.  Committee membership includes the Dean of the Graduate School, two to three faculty from each college, and representative administrative personnel.

Purpose and Scope
It is the purpose and responsibility of the University Assessment Committee to ensure Grand Canyon University focuses on learner-centered assessment as a best practice.  Therefore, the UAC is charged with assessing the accomplishment of the University’s goals as set forth in the Mission Statements as well as program and General Education Core Skills goals.  The UAC is also responsible for monitoring and evaluating the assessment efforts of individual colleges.

The assessment process requires establishing the outcomes to be measured, selecting and/or creating measurement instruments, determining measurement criteria, and using the data to generate changes for improvement.  The UAC uses this process to annually review the four areas of the Mission Statement and analyze the General Education Core Skills and program goals on a rotating basis.  While many of these factors can be assessed and analyzed at the institutional level, some must be assessed at the course and program levels.  Student learning outcomes for specific courses, majors, and programs are the responsibility of the Office of Assessment and Institutional Research in conjunction with the relevant college.

Membership:
The membership of the UAC includes the Chair and representatives of the four colleges (COLA, COE, CNHS, and KBCOB) and student support departments.  UAC memberships for AY2007-2008 are:

• Dr. Marsha Watson, Dean of Assessment
• Judith Eroe, Director of Academic Assessment, Office of Assessment and Institutional Research
• Cheryl Roat, Associate Dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Dr. Ryan Lunsford, Director of Executive MBA Program, Assistant Professor of Marketing and International Business
• Michael Berger, Director of Curriculum Design and Development
• Joanne Weiss, Manager, Curriculum Design and Development
• Madeline Winney, Director of Alumni Relations, Fundraising, and Development
• William A. Kuehl, Associate Professor, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• David Perkins, DBA Candidate; Assistant Professor of Business, Ken Blanchard College of Business
• A. Faith Smith, Chair, Department of Christian Studies,  Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, College of  Liberal Arts
• Dr. Kimberly LaPrade, Assistant Professor, Program Chair of Technology, TaskStream Coordinator, College of Education
• Pat Shannon, Associate Professor, College of Nursing & Health Sciences
• Dr. Lisa Aaroe, Assistant Dean, Associate Professor and Chair of Special Education, College of Education