The 2018 NASPA Assessment and Persistence Conference
Supporting the Profession Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
June 22, 2018
Student affairs professionals from all across the country gathered in Baltimore, MD last week for the 2018 NASPA Assessment and Persistence Conference. Designed to promote student learning and success by strengthening assessment, improving educational quality, and developing intentional persistence programming, #APC18 was a place for those specializing in assessment to connect, and learn from those excelling in the field.
The Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community (AERKC) recognized Endicott College with the Innovation Award, and Ted Elling for his contributions to the field with the AERKC Distinguished Service Award.
#APC18 Highlights
Who says Assessment isn’t fun?!? #APC18 @NASPAtweets @NASPA_AERKC pic.twitter.com/cf3rGaWIoI
— Wilks Leadership (@WilksLeadership) June 14, 2018
Dr. Tia Brown McNair, vice president of the office of diversity, equity & student success at the Association of American Colleges and Universities, kicked off the conference with her opening keynote "Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Advancing Assessment and Persistence."
And with that, NASPA #APC18 is officially underway!! So excited for the next two days!! pic.twitter.com/bEvBBVPi2J
— Brandon Douglas (@JacenJustin) June 14, 2018
What does it mean to be #studentready? #apc18
— Matthew D. Pistilli (@mdpistilli) June 14, 2018
College to Life: Relevance & Value of Higher Ed report:85% of campuses have learning outcomes, but only 9% students understand them. #APC18
— Nancy Nguyen (@nnguyen41) June 14, 2018
We are not connecting the experiences the students ar having with the development of skill sets * there is a disconnect - Tia Brown McNair #APC18
— Jan Wilson McKinney (@janwmckinney) June 14, 2018
In what ways do we confront those times we try to buck the commitment we make to students? How can we change to be student-ready? #APC18
— Paul Jacobson-Miller (@pmilleredu) June 14, 2018
Flip the script and become student ready not college ready. #apc18 #naspa - Tia Brown McNair
— Shawna (@salt127) June 14, 2018
“What is your urgent vision for change?” @tiabmcnair -#APC18
— Christine Hernandez (@hernandezC2C) June 14, 2018
After a busy day of pre-conferences and conference sessions, participants were able to get to know each other a little more as they took in the poster sessions at the reception. Those who chose to join the Dinner & Dialogue groups then left the hotel to explore Baltimore.
Making RIC proud, by sharing our knowledge at the NASPA Assessment and Persistence Conference! @JLMeriwether06 @RICNews #apc18 #naspa pic.twitter.com/7UBnuY1nVz
— Shawna (@salt127) June 14, 2018
College of the Marshall Islands #represent #APC18 #NASPA @NASPAtweets #Assessment #Persistence #Baltimore #Camden pic.twitter.com/TcnPZvckrK
— J. Vincent Nix, PhD (@jvincentnix) June 15, 2018
So many good conversations today about assessment and CONNECTING the data! So many great colleagues! And so much more conference tomorrow! #APC18
— Paul Jacobson-Miller (@pmilleredu) June 15, 2018
Stephanie Marken, chief methodologist at Gallup spoke about ____ in her morning plenary, “Consumer Reflections: U.S. Adults Reflect upon their Education Expectations, Decisions and Experiences,” cosponsored by the Center for First-generation Student Success.
Why did students go to college? To have a great job and a great life - so Gallup and Purdue decided to measure the extent to which HiEd was actually allowing that to occur. #APC18
— Matthew D. Pistilli (@mdpistilli) June 15, 2018
@Gallup: 88% of freshmen report “getting a good job” as reason for going to college. 27% report having a good job upon graduation. #APC18
— Nancy Nguyen (@nnguyen41) June 15, 2018
Powerful. What can we do to ensure we are making sure that each one of our students is fully accessing the resources on our campus? #APC18 pic.twitter.com/z3mobewgLT
— Brandon Douglas (@JacenJustin) June 15, 2018
Can we take action to improve the college experience that will enhance employee engagement. #APC18 @NASPAtweets pic.twitter.com/IsmD9ltHGD
— AER KC (@NASPA_AERKC) June 15, 2018
36% college graduates report they would have choose a different major. ➡️Need for career exploration and holistic academic advising! #APC18
— Nancy Nguyen (@nnguyen41) June 15, 2018
Access and cost were two major sources of regret when looking back at institutional choice #APC18
— Christine Hernandez (@hernandezC2C) June 15, 2018
Dr. Stephanie Gordon, vice president for professional development at NASPA helped to end the conference on a high note with her closing plenary “What’s Next? The Role of Student Affairs Assessment in the Completion Agenda.”
Excited for this morning's presentation with Dr. Stephanie Gordon!! #APC18
— Brandon Douglas (@JacenJustin) June 16, 2018
Assessment isn’t bad - shared responsibility and it is critical to embrace the data - inspiring outcomes from town hall @NASPAvpd #APC18
— Jan Wilson McKinney (@janwmckinney) June 16, 2018
Assessment is a moral obligation for us to ensure that we are being good stewards of our students'/states' monies as well as of our campus' missions and goals. #APC18
— Matthew D. Pistilli (@mdpistilli) June 16, 2018
I always see myself as the omniscient narrator of Student Life story. Assessment professionals see the big picture and can make the connections between departments for our colleagues. #APC18 pic.twitter.com/FkQulAEHt1
— Daniel Kaczmarek (@Dan_Kacz) June 16, 2018
Stephanie Gordon: VPs need data to tell a story, provide information, and support ROI. We need to be responsible using student data. #APC18 @NASPAtweets
— AER KC (@NASPA_AERKC) June 16, 2018
Thank you to the Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community, and to our conference sponsors, Skyfactor, Oohlala and Campus Labs for making this professional development event possible.