Assessment & Accountability

April 7, 2010
1:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Separate registration and fee are required.

Pursuing Excellence—Assessing Learning Outcomes, Driving Accountability

1:20-1:30 p.m.
Introductions
Presider: Thomas Gibbons, Dean of Continuing Studies, Northwestern University

1:30-2:15 p.m.
Connecting Learning Outcomes to Job Performance
In response to requests from the military and corporations, Capella University has developed programs that are designed to help improve employees’ job performance and expand their capac-ity to assume new responsibilities. This session will review the kinds of metrics that can be used reliably to assess student learning outcomes by an online university.
Presenter: Michael J. Offerman, Capella University

2:00-3:15 p.m.
Using a Financial Accountability Model to Help Build a Strong Program Portfolio
To build a sustainable university self-supporting, lifelong learning enterprise, a CE organization needs to commit to data development. This session will describe how the Division of Continu-ing Education and Community Services at the University of New Mexico has implemented a successful financial accountability system to support its portfolio of non-credit programs. The Division delivers some 800 courses per semester, provides custom training to a variety of employers, offers conference services, and manages a number of contracts. The presenters will review their course-by-course budgeting system, the management information systems that support their model, and the reporting templates that all program managers utilize. Improved organizational performance and increased collaboration among program managers are some of the benefits attributed to the utilization of a common budgeting and reporting system.
Presenter: Rita Martinez-Purson and Joe Miera, The University of New Mexico

3:15-4:00 p.m.
Preparing Quality Assurance Professionals in Higher Education: An Online Postbaccalaureate Certification Program
The global knowledge economy has increased interest in the international assessment of the quality of higher education. Government policymakers recognize that an educated labor force tends to foster economic growth and competitiveness. Because of the increased number of higher education institutions and quality assurance agencies around the world, there is a need to prepare a cadre of quality assurance leaders. A new online postbaccalaureate certificate offered by New York University seeks to address this need. Jean Morse, who is currently directing the NYU program and was formerly President of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Accreditation, led the international team that developed the certificate program curriculum and will discuss the program’s approach and goals.
Presenter: Jean Morse, New York University School of Continuing & Professional Studies

4:00-4:45 p.m.
Why Does Quality Matter in Continuing Higher Education?
Attempting to measure the impact of our institutions’ professional degree programs on our students’ lives is a challenging endeavor. Determining how the quality of our programs is related to their career advancement is equally complex. Can we quantify our impact on our graduates and on the region’s economic agenda? What types of data are most meaningful? This session will discuss these issues and share methods Johns Hopkins has used to gather baseline information for better understanding why and how quality programs matter.
Presenter: Sarah B. Steinberg, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University

For more information: please email nkats@upcea.edu or call the UCEA National Office at 202.659.3130.

University Professional & Continuing Education Association | One Dupont Circle, Suite 615, Washington, DC 20036 | 202.659.3130 Phone | 202.785.0374 Fax | www.upcea.edu