UTA honored for use of data to support student success
For the first time, the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA) has awarded its Excellence in Assessment (EIA) designation to The University of Texas at Arlington, one of just 12 universities nationwide to receive the award.
UTA is also the only university in the University of Texas System to receive the designation, which recognizes colleges and universities for their commitment to the comprehensive assessment of student learning outcomes as a means to drive internal improvement and advance student success.
“Assessment is an ongoing and comprehensive process designed to improve all aspects of the student learning experience,” said Diane Waryas Hughey, director of assessment and accreditation at UTA. “The EIA designation is important because it reflects all the hard work that UTA faculty, staff and administrators have done to build a robust program around assessment.”
The Excellence in Assessment designation focuses on processes and uses of assessment data rather than on student performance or accomplishment. When it comes to assessment, all data is useful because it can reveal opportunities for improvement, said Rebecca Lewis, assistant vice provost of institutional effectiveness and reporting.
“At UTA, we care about students and whether they are learning in the best, most efficient way,” Lewis said. “We are looking for the best ways to improve student learning so that UTA students get the best quality education. We want to put our efforts toward decisions that are backed by data.”
The designation is determined through a competitive, national peer review process. UT Arlington was recognized for specific criteria such as its institution-wide Unit Effectiveness Process and the use of the UTA website to reach more stakeholders and make assessment understandable and accessible.
In awarding UTA the excellence designation, the NILOA said the University “has a rich institutional commitment to outcomes assessment and a commitment to meaningful and informed improvement. From increased diversity and program offerings to instructional modalities, UTA is inching toward greater inclusion and an increased commitment to building a culture of assessment.”
“The Excellence in Assessment designation … highlights the use of evidence of student learning across the entirety of the university setting, involving a variety of stakeholders including students, employers, and student affairs,” said Natasha Jankowski, NILOA executive director.
The EIA designation is the first national designation of its kind, spotlighting institutions that successfully integrate assessment practices across an institution, providing evidence of student learning, and using assessment results to guide institutional decision-making and improve student performance. Now in its fifth year, a total of 39 institutions have received the designation, including this year’s class.