Office of Academic Assessment
About Us
The Office of Academic Assessment was created in January 2008, when the previous Office of Institutional Research and Assessment was reorganized into separate entities.
The creation of one office devoted entirely to the assessment of undergraduate and graduate-professional student learning outcomes is a reflection of the high priority DU has placed on our understanding of student learning and the pedagogical and curricular activities that lead to strengthening the bonds between effective teaching and enhanced student learning.
The Office of Academic Assessment works with the Center for Teaching and Learning, the academic deans and the provost in effectively utilizing assessment results to enhance student learning and effective teaching.
What We Do
- Assist departments and units with assessment activities that are broadly focused on student learning
- Consult with departments and units at any stage of the assessment cycle—including planning, implementation, interpretation and report writing
- Administer centralized, assessment-related surveys and projects such as the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Beginning College Survey of Student Engagement (BCSSE)
- Collaborate with nationally renowned research institutions such as the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) to improve education both at DU and across the United States
What We Don't Do
- We can't collect your data for you. (We can help you design strategies for data collection.)
- We can't analyze your data for you (although we can suggest analytic strategies and provide some minimal levels of support). However, we'd be happy to help you think through your interpretations and possible ways of using your assessment results for course and curricular improvements.
At DU, faculty own the curriculum, and they primarily use assessment to understand how well teaching efforts lead to student learning.
If you need help with projects or surveys in areas outside the assessment of student learning, contact the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis at 303-871-3474.