Purpose: Assessment Support Grants encourage development and implementation of effective program assessments by providing resources to help defray the costs of such efforts.

Goals:

1. To encourage development or implementation of program/course assessments aimed at student learning.
2. To promote best practices in assessment at the program level.
3. To facilitate faculty/staff participation in the scholarship of assessment.

How much can I ask for?

Grant requests between $250 and $2500 will be considered. The number of grants awarded will be based on the yearly budgeted amount.

How can I use the funds?

Funds from the Assessment Support Grants must be used for activities that are intended to provide information that results in programmatic or curricular change or that help to further refine assessment measures/processes. Valid uses of Assessment Support Grant funds include:

• Expenses related to administration of certification or professional exams that provide feedback on curricular strengths and weaknesses
• Focus group expenses
• Survey expenses
• Honoraria and travel for external reviewers of student work products (portfolios, projects, exhibits, performances, etc.)
• Software
• Support for student assistants directly involved in assessment-related activities
• Equipment related directly to assessment activities
• Faculty/staff stipends to develop and implement assessment measures/instruments
• Faculty/staff travel expenses to assessment conferences

Assessment Support Grants can be used to support outcomes assessment in the following
areas:

• Undergraduate or Graduate Academic Programs
• Liberal Studies
• Administrative or Educational Support programs focused on student learning

How do I apply?

Applications for an Assessment Support Grant must contain the following information:

1. Outcome(s) being assessed (must be included on the program’s assessment plan)
2. Each assessment activity to be funded
3. Individual responsible for each assessment activity
4. Participants in each assessment activity
5. Amount requested for each assessment activity
6. Timeline for each assessment activity
7. Plan for disseminating results to program faculty/staff

Completed applications should be submitted to the Office of Assessment, H.F.R. 450 no later than October 15, 2006. All questions about the applications should be addressed to Melissa Wargo, Director of Assessment at ext. 3084 or wargo@email.wcu.edu.

What are my responsibilities if I receive an Assessment Support Grant?

At the conclusion of the funding year, all grant recipients must provide:

• a report summarizing the activities completed and funds expended, and
• a summary of the actions taken or proposed as result of the assessments

Additionally, grant recipients must be willing to share the results of the project in a campus-wide assessment forum, when requested.