Assessment Grant
Purpose
The purpose of the Assessment Grant is to promote the evaluation of student learning outcomes toward the goal of improving student learning.
Examples of funded projects include, but are not limited to:
- Development and administration of instruments (i.e., tests) that directly assess students’ skills and competencies.
- Construction and use of rubrics (e.g., to evaluate capstone projects, portfolios, artistic performances, or term papers), and similar criterion-referenced metrics.
- Use of national or external benchmark comparisons.
Use of Grant Funding
The grant must be used to:
- Evaluate STUDENT LEARNING.
- Demonstrate that assessment results can be used to improve student learning outcomes.
A portion of the grant may be used to:
- Fund department or student learning initiatives (e.g., piloting alternatives to developmental education, internship opportunities, study-abroad, technological purchases, etc.
Eligibility
All Penn State Berks faculty and staff are eligible to apply for the Assessment Grant. Priority will be given to department and unit heads, program coordinators, and coordinators of special projects.
Please note: Program coordinators may no longer apply to fund themselves (e.g., for release time) for projects that will be used for Middle States and ACUE program assessment. Instead, program coordinators are encouraged to apply for funding to involve other department faculty in the program assessment process.
All Assessment Grant recipients agree to publicly discuss the development of instrument(s), use of results, and changes or planned changes made to existing programs to the campus community. This can be accomplished via:
- Faculty workshops, retreats, or special events.
- Division and department meetings.
- Other appropriate campus and University venues.
Application Guidelines & Procedures
Guidelines
Funds for the Assessment Grant is limited. Assessment Grant proposals will be evaluated by an Assessment Grant Committee on the following criteria:
- The extent the proposed assessment instrument(s) evaluate student learning outcomes.
- Demonstrated (or ability to demonstrate) validity.
- Originality and creativity of the proposed assessment instrument(s).
- Scope and number of students/programs impacted by assessment project.
- Ability for program area to provide matching funds.
- Practicality in development and administration of assessment instrument(s).
- Proposed use of results to improve student learning outcomes.
Procedures
By February 1, 2013
- Assessment Grant call for proposals emailed to Berks faculty and staff.
By March 2, 2013
- Consult with Jayné Park-Martinez from Planning, Research & Assessment by e-mail (jip10@psu.edu) or phone 610-396-6386 on applicability and feasibility of assessment proposal.
By March 25, 2013
- Complete the online Assessment Grant Application and Budget Form. With the online form you must also have Dr. Paul Esqueda (if faculty or staff) & Division Head (if faculty), send an email to Planning, Research & Assessment affirming approval of the proposal.
April 1- April 26, 2013
- Assessment Grant Committee will evaluate proposals.
April 30, 2013
- Grant Recipients announced.
Implementation Deadlines
- Assessment Grant funding will be available for 2013-2014.
- Assessment(s) instruments and plans to administer must be developed by fall 2013.
- Implementation of assessment proposal must take place by spring 2014.
- Recommendations for program curricula change(s) must take place by spring 2014.
2012-2013 Assessment Grant Recipient Projects.
Read a brief description (2012-2013) »
2011-2012 Assessment Grant Recipient Projects.
Read a brief description (2011-2012) »
2010-2011 Assessment Grant Recipient Projects.
Read a brief description (2010-2011) »
2009-2010 Assessment Grant Recipient Projects.
Read a brief description (2009 - 2010) »
Questions should be directed to Jayné Park-Martinez, Planning Research & Assessment, (jip10@psu.edu) or 610-396-6386.