Key Assessment Challenges - Essay Example

Assessment Challenges Assessment Challenges Introduction Attaining a PhD in a profession allows one to be passionate about careerand personal development. It is important to use such knowledge responsibly in order to serve the academic community and society. Education is an important process that society should use to influence developing minds. After attaining my PhD, I want to serve as a Provost in a university. Consequently, it is necessary to describe the job, provide two biographies of professionals working in a similar position and highlight three key assessment challenges. It is also crucial to evaluate the use of assessments and evaluation. Description of the Job A provost serves as a senior administrator in institutions of higher learning. The provost also acts as the chief academic officer in a university (Texas State University, 2015). The office is responsible for overseeing all educational programs and offerings. The individuals who serve in this position have to oversee academic policies and faculty affairs. They are also expected to handle personnel matters. It is crucial to acknowledge that the provost is also responsible for ensuring that all the educational programs and offerings are consistent with the mission, vision and values of the institution. In order to achieve their mandate, they should supervise all the senior academic staff in the university. The role of a provost evolves as the educational institution changes. As the school becomes bigger, the position acquires additional responsibilities. Another responsibility is to work with the leaders of the university in order to implement the strategic plan of the University. In addition, provosts are responsible for staff recruitment and retention (Texas State University, 2015). They have to ensure that the institution creates an attractive environment for top teaching talent. It is also noted that they oversee student recruitment and funding activities. Another important role is the need to work with the finance officer to develop a budget for the university. One of the most important responsibilities of a provost is to safeguard the quality of the student experience. In order to achieve this objective, one has to understand the issues affecting students and their expectations. It is simple to fulfill this responsibility when one cares about young people. In addition, it is necessary to learn about young people and the things that occupy their minds. One should also believe that students should enjoy a good learning environment (Texas State University, 2015). The position involves the need to oversee the implementation of quality learning standards. Provosts occupy a senior position in a university. As a result, their peers respect them. They are responsible for understanding the relevant government policies. In addition, they should use their position to influence government policy (Texas State University, 2015). They also have a strong influence over the academic and administrative policies that should be enforced in the university. Biographies of Provosts Professor John W. Etchemedy serves as the provost of Stanford University. He received his undergraduate and postgraduate degree in Philosophy from the University of Nevada. He then received his PhD in Philosophy at Stanford University in 1982 (Stanford University, 2015). A PhD shows that someone has a deep understanding of the subject. His first job was at Princeton University where he served the faculty. He returned to Stanford University in 1983 (Stanford University, 2015). He served as a member of the Department of Philosophy for a long time before becoming a Provost. His long service enabled him to develop a strong understanding of the university and its culture. He received many awards in the course of his service. Professor Etchemedy became the provost of Stanford University in 2000 (Stanford University, 2015). He has been serving the Ivy-League University until now. The second biography involves Alan M. Garber who serves as the provost of Harvard University (Harvard University, 2015). He also serves as the Mallinckrodt Professor of Health Policy at Harvard Medical School. In addition, he is the professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He also serves as a Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management. The numerous titles demonstrate that he is a very competent and intelligent person. Prior to his current position, he also held numerous positions at the Stanford University. He is experienced in the field of medicine and public health policy. His experience has enabled him to serve the Congressional Budget Office (Harvard University, 2015). His career is founded on an Economics degree. He received his education at Stanford University. Alan Garber is one of the most influential provosts in the United States. His position enables him to influence both the public sector and the private sector in a significant manner. Furthermore, he manages to do something that most provosts cannot do. Besides his administrative duties, he teaches a number of classes in three departments. Job Description An example of the job description of the position can be found at the Trinity college website. The Provost is the equivalent of a vice-chancellor in the institution. The institution has had 44 provosts since its inception in 1592 (Trinity college Dublin, 2013). The importance of the position is evident in the security of tenure. A provost can serve for ten years without having the opportunity to renew his contract (Trinity College Dublin, 2013). The institution expects the provost to maintain the traditions and values of the institution. In addition, provosts are expected to lead internal events. They are also responsible for cultivating relationships with other stakeholders. The provost also chairs the Board of the college (Trinity College Dublin, 2013). As a result, they play a significant role in influencing the future of the organization. Challenges in conducting assessments In as much as assessments are important parts of any career, provosts face many challenges. The first challenge is the lack of adequate resources. The assessment process requires many resources that may not be available to the parties involved. In most instances, the individuals are forced to improvise. The process involves an opportunity cost because time that could improve student outcomes is reserved for the process. The second challenge is designing suitable assessments that match or compliment faculty development plans. A provost needs to find the right balance between assessments and faculty development plans. The process requires the input of all the stakeholders. As a result, designing faculty development is a test of one’s ability to negotiate with people. The faculty development plans provide a blue print that guides the work environment during activities such as evaluation and assessment. The third challenge involves determining the appropriate student learning outcomes. In addition, it is necessary to measure the different categories of data collected in order to make the appropriate changes. Specific examples of challenges As mentioned, a significant challenge facing higher education is lack of adequate resources. The sector has been undermined by budget cuts. A survey conducted indicated that 51% of the provosts interviewed indicated that budget shortfalls would affect the learning process within institutions (Jaschik, 2013). The provosts were mainly from public institutions. A survey conducted among private institutions indicated that 34% of the provosts were concerned about financial challenges. It is also indicated that only 8% of provosts acknowledged that the faculty members understood the financial challenges (Jaschik, 2013). It means that they are unlikely to participate in the assessment process. It is also crucial to acknowledge that states were failing to provide funds in a reliable manner because of the economic downturn. The challenges in developing faculty plans that are dependent on assessments is significant problem. For example, it has been difficult for many provosts to implement strategies that enhance retention and degree completion (Jaschik, 2013). Other development plans that have been characterized by challenges include hiring of relevant academic personnel, who will improve the performance of an organization. Finding appropriate means of measuring the student learning outcomes has been difficult because of the challenges in finding a standard assessment platform. A survey conducted indicated that development plans focusing on assessment and accreditation have been difficult to implement (Jaschik, 2013). One of the challenges is awarding credit for work done outside the learning environment. For example, issuing credits based on competency and using companies to proffer general education has affected student outcomes. The provosts, who participated in the survey, indicated that such changes to measuring learning outcomes are likely to affect their business models (Jaschik, 2013). In addition, their suitability and effectiveness is yet to be determined. Using information on assessment and evaluation to address challenges Assessment is an instrumental process that can be used to address financial challenges. Firstly, assessment aids in forecasting future financial needs and resources based on the organization’s vision and strategic plan. Secondly, assessment utilizes a feedback mechanism that allows corrections when the organizational budget fails to correspond with the resources available. Thirdly, evaluation allows continuous review of existing plans that focus on the budget, faculty development plans and learning outcomes (Kramer & Swing, 2010). Interactive assessments that involve various stakeholders within the organization can improve faculty development plans and learning outcomes. For example, such assessments are dependent on the input of various players. Consequently, the resultant measures are not only sensitive but also reliable. A justification for the importance of completing the assessment Assessment is an important tool when planning for higher education and accreditation. In addition, it is an important factor because it provides an opportunity for the stakeholders to monitor the progress of the institution. It is important to note that completing assessments highlight the weaknesses and strengths of various approaches. For example, conducting assessment in the education sector exposes one to numerous challenges, especially when input models are used. The models undermine the quality of the findings (Ebersole, 2014). Consequently, one can make appropriate recommendations. In addition, completing assessments allows one to understand that in spite of the strong need for an effective approach to assessment, the lack of appropriate tools and methods for the process undermines the credibility of the results (Ebersole, 2014). Consequently, it is necessary to become patient and follow established mechanisms. How Research Is Utilized Through Assessments According to Dietel, Herman and Knuth (1991 p.1) assessment is “any method used to better understand the current knowledge that a student possesses”. It means that assessment is an inquiry-based approach that allows one to understand phenomena. Research involves the use of assessments to understand an issue. The assessments reveal many insights that are instrumental when implementing policies and strategies for the organization. In addition, they reveal areas that the institution needs to address in order to improve student outcomes. Provosts use information obtained from assessments in order to formulate affective plans for the institution. In addition, they provide an effective mechanism for provosts to measure the impact of their work. Conclusion I am looking forward to having a successful career as a provost. Although the position involves many challenges, it provides an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the society. However, I will have to overcome many assessment challenges before I become successful. References Dietel, R. Herman, J. & Knuth, R. (1991). What Does Research Say about Assessment? Retrieved from http://methodenpool.uni-koeln.de/portfolio/What%20Does%20Research%20Say%20About%20Assessment.htm Ebersole, J. (2014). Top issues facing higher education in 2014. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnebersole/2014/01/13/top-issues-facing-higher-education-in-2014/ Harvard University. (2015). Alan M. Garber. Retrieved from http://provost.harvard.edu/people/alan-m-garber Jaschik, S. (2013). Skepticism about Tenure, MOOCs and the Presidency: A Survey of Provosts. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/survey/skepticism-about-tenure-moocs-and-presidency-survey-provosts Top of Form Kramer, G. L., & Swing, R. L. (2010). Higher education assessments: Leadership matters. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Bottom of Form Stanford University. (2015). About Professor John W. Etchemendy. Retrieved from https://provost.stanford.edu/about-professor-john-w-etchemendy Shipman, D., Aloi, S. L & Jones, E. A. (2013). Addressing key challenges in higher education assessment. The Journal of General Education, 45 (4) Texas State University. (2015). what is the provost’s role? Retrieved from http://www.provost.txstate.edu/about/What-is.html Trinity College Dublin. (2013). Role of the provost. Retrieved from https://www.tcd.ie/provost/role/ Read More