Academic Assessment Council
Membership
The Academic Assessment Council (AAC) shall be composed of one elected tenured faculty member from each college, including the Library; two elected at large tenured faculty members from any college, but not from the same college; a representative of the Honors College; a Graduate Program Director appointed by the Office of Graduate Studies; one full-time undergraduate student appointed by the SGA for a one year term; one full-time graduate student appointed by the GSA for a one year term; the Chair of the Subcommittee on Student Learning Assessment; a representative from the Council of Chairs; the individual appointed in the Office of the Provost serving as the Middle States Liaison Officer ex officio and voting; and the Director of Academic Assessment ex officio and voting; one full-time undergraduate student appointed by the SGA for a one year term, non-voting; one full-time graduate student appointed by the GSA for a one year term, non-voting; an Associate Dean representative elected from among the Associate Deans to a three year term, ex officio and non-voting; one Dean representative appointed to a three-year term and on a rotating basis by the Deans’ Council, ex officio and non-voting; Chair of the Core Curriculum Reporting Committee, ex-officio and non-voting; a representative from the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity, non-voting; and the Assistant Director of Academic Assessment ex officio and non-voting.
Overview and Responsibilities
The purpose of the Academic Assessment Council shall be to provide guidance, structure, and support for the assessment of student learning and institutional effectiveness throughout the institution. Assessment is the ongoing process of establishing clear, measurable expected outcomes; systematically gathering, analyzing, and interpreting evidence to determine how well performance matches those expectations; and using the resulting information to understand and improve student learning as well as measure the effectiveness of Towson University in meeting student learning and institutional outcomes. Student learning includes the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and personal development attained through curricular, co-curricular, and out-of-class learning experiences.
- To provide guidance, structure, and support for the assessment of student learning and institutional effectiveness throughout the institution as it pertains to student learning.
- To serve in an advisory capacity to the University community, the Office of Assessment and the Office of the Provost on matters pertaining to assessment.
- To participate in and provide input on the Middle States Accreditation activities.
- To make recommendations to the Academic Senate and the Office of Assessment regarding policies pertaining to the University assessment program.
- To participate in initiatives that support the institutionalization of assessment and a positive assessment culture.
- To provide training to members as needed on evidence-based practice in assessment.
- To provide guidance and support to the Subcommittee on Student Learning Assessment (SSLA) in establishing evidence-based practice in the assessment of student learning and the assessment of the assessment process completed by departments and colleges.
- To work towards continuous improvement of the University assessment of student learning, including, as appropriate, its simplification and streamlining.
- To provide an annual report to the Academic Senate.
| Name | Department | College | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Carol Caronna (Chair) |
Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice | CLA | 2027 |
| Kate Eglseder | Occupational Therapy & Occupational Science | CHP | 2027 |
| Soo-yeon Hwang | Cook Library | Library | 2025 |
| Seo Gyoung Kim | Art & Design, Art History, Art Education | COFAC | 2027 |
| Douglas Sanford | Management | CBE | 2025 |
| Stephen Schroth | Early Childhood Education (COE) |
At large | 2027 |
|
William Tsitsos |
Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice (CLA) | At large | 2027 |
| Mitch Voisei | Mathematics | FCSM | 2025 |
Subcommittee Representatives
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Melissa Groves | Co-Chair, Subcommittee on Student Learning Assessment (SSLA) |
| Kaitlyn Wilson | Co-Chair, Subcommittee on Student Learning Assessment (SSLA) |
Ex Officio
| Name | representative/Department |
|---|---|
| LaVern Chapman | Inclusion & Institutional Equity, non-voting |
| Regina Carlow | Deans' Representative (term ending 2025), non-voting |
| David Ownby | Graduate Program Director Representative |
| Abram Fox | Honors College |
| Linda Oravecz | Council of Chairs |
| Tab Uhrich | Associate Dean representative (term ending 2024), non-voting |
| Tina Kelleher | Chair, Core Curriculum Reporting Committee, non-voting |
| Leticia Romo | Director of Academic Assessment |
| Emily Bailey | Asst. Director of Academic Assessment |
| Clare Muhoro | Associate Provost for Academic Affiars, Middle States Liaison Officer |
| TBA | SGA |
| TBA | GSA |
Meetings
The Academic Assessment Council meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 2:30 PM.
The SSLA Subcommittee meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 12:30-2:00 PM.
Subcommittee on Student Learning Assessment (SSLA)
The Subcommittee on Student Learning Assessment (SSLA) shall consist of two representatives (referred to as Assessment Leaders) from each college; a single representative for the Library, a single representative for Graduate Studies, and a single representative for the Honors College. Representatives shall be selected by the respective colleges based on their assessment expertise and/or experience. The Director of Academic Assessment; the Assessment Coordinator and a representative of the University CORE Committee or their designee will as serve as ex-officio non-voting members of the subcommittee.
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Melissa Groves (Co-Chair) | CBE |
| Douglas Sanford | CBE |
| Elizabeth Crusse | CHP |
| Emily Bailey | CLA |
| TBA | CLA |
| Kaitlyn Wilson (Co-Chair) | CHP |
| Stephen Schroth | COE |
| Kimberly McCormick | COE |
| Carrie Price | Library |
| Jason Rigby | COFAC |
| TBA | COFAC |
| Sonali Raje | FCSM |
| Michael Krach | FCSM |
| David Ownby | Graduate Studies |
| Alison McCartney | Honors College |
| Leticia Romo | Academic Assessment |
| Tanisha Peterkin | Assessment Coordinator |
| TBA | University Curriculum / CCRC / Designee |
| TBA | SGA |