Assessment Statement

Statement of Philosophy:

In carrying out our mission, Georgia Southwestern State University's Division of Student Affairs is guided by Student Development Theory. This theory views students in an holistic fashion and employs it as a guiding principle in its delivery of services and programs to students. In doing so, it recognizes the need to understand and know the extent and levels of effectiveness and efficiency of its services and programs.

Of equivalent importance is the need to understand and know about students in general; this includes but is not limited to their: experiences, holistic development, impressions, successes, involvement in campus life, involvement in community and service learning efforts, and perceptions and beliefs about the overall campus environment. In order to determine our levels of success regarding these issues, ongoing and/or periodic evaluation and assessment efforts shall be employed to enhance the Division's influence on students' experiences at Georgia Southwestern State University.

Role of the Student Affairs Assessment/Evaluation/Research Unit:

The Student Affairs Assessment/Evaluation/Research unit shall possess a philosophical understanding of educational/social science research and student development. Its overall function will be to provide guidance, support, and direction as follows:

• ●    To oversee the conceptual implementation of assessment, evaluation and research within the Division of Student Affairs.
• ●    To assist departmental units in defining and articulating desired student outcomes and measuring impact of respective activities, programs and services.
• ●    To provide consultative assistance to departmental units to ensure that assessment and/or evaluation approaches, or research designs, are appropriate based on desired outcomes and measures of impact.
• ●    To establish cooperative agreement linkages, as appropriate, within the Division and the University to reduce duplication of efforts and unnecessary expenditures.
• ●    To assist departmental units in utilizing assessment, evaluation, and/or research results to modify programs and services and further enhance student development within and beyond the Division.
• ●    To stay abreast of current dialogues, literature, and research about student development and assessment/evaluation/research and share such information throughout the Division.
• ●    To cultivate and monitor compliance with SACS and the Council for the Advance of Standards in Higher Education [CAS] criteria, relative to activities, programs, and services provided via the Division of Student Affairs.

Divisional Expectations:

The Division of Student Affairs will strive to accomplish the following in assessment, evaluation, and research efforts:

• ●    To determine student needs, preferences, and satisfaction regarding services, programs, environments, and activities.
• ●    To assist in the measurement of retention and completion of academic programs.
• ●    To monitor student usage of activities, programs and services.
• ●    To determine learning outcomes associated with involvement in programs, activities, services, or environments provided by the Division.
• ●    To provide information to respond to governmental, public, or other appropriate inquiries regarding the effectiveness of activities, programs and services provided by the Division.
• ●    To determine the extent to which activities, services and programs meet students’ needs and expectations.
• ●    To measure cost efficiency, planning procedures, goal orientation, participation, and outcomes for success for activities, programs and services offered by the Division.
• ●    To share the Division’s assessment/evaluation/research outcomes with all appropriate constituencies.
• ●    To maintain compliance with SACS and CAS criteria, regarding the activities, programs, and services coordinated by the Division of Student Affairs