Excellence in Assessment Designations Application Period Now Open

The Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA), along with partners at the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) and the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA), is pleased to announce that application materials for the 2018 Excellence in Assessment (EIA) Designations are now available. Campuses wishing to apply for a 2018 EIA Designation should plan to submit their applications by May 15, 2018.

The Excellence in Assessment (EIA) program recognizes exemplary colleges and universities that successfully integrate assessment practices across campus, provide evidence of student learning outcomes to stakeholders, and utilize assessment results to guide institutional decision-making and improve student performance. The VSA, AAC&U, and NILOA were proud to recognize five campuses with EIA Designations in 2017, including one campuses recognized for Sustained Excellence:

• Bowling Green State University
• James Madison University
• Middlesex Community College
• Rio Salado College
• Southern Connecticut State University

The EIA designations focus on campus process and use of assessment outcomes, rather than on student performance or accomplishment. While student outcomes are an essential component of assessment processes, they are only one of many pieces necessary to facilitate institutional growth and improvement. The EIA designation evaluation process is directly linked to the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA) Transparency Framework and builds on the foundation of student learning outcomes reporting within the Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA). The Transparency Framework provides a structure to make evidence of student accomplishment accessible, useful, and meaningful to audiences both on and off campuses.

If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact us at EIA_support@voluntarysystem.org. More information can also be found at the EIA website.