UM Issue 8: Assessment at a Glance

By: Christina Koonts

Assessment plays an important role in an organization, Virginia International University included. The role assessment plays impacts everyone who has a stake in VIU. The process allows for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to better help plan and implement strategic plans for different staff departments as well as the deans of VIU’s schools of study. Creating strong and effective plans for all aspects of the university allow for continued growth and overall achievement. Assessment is an integral part of how VIU’s future is shaped.

WHAT IS ASSESSMENT?
Assessment is being able to give value or importance to something; for an organization it determines what we do as departments and individuals, and then work to improve our work and processes in those avenues. In the context of higher education, assessment is defined more narrowly and specifies a particular assessment use. Assessment in U.S. colleges and universities is now understood as a means of developing and improving student learning and teaching:
Assessment is the systematic collection, review, and use of information about educational programs undertaken for the purpose of improving student learning and development. (Palomba & Banta, 1999 [2015], p. 4)

SO WHAT IS ASSESSMENT USED FOR?
Improving performance, both academically and organizationally! Simply put, assessment is defined as continuous improvement.

WHERE IS IT USED?
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE), overseen by Associate Vice President Ms.
Christina Koonts, recognizes that assessment is conducted through different measures for a variety of assessment uses, though with a common aim of systematically using evidence to improve institutional effectiveness. Assessment at VIU, then, happens in four areas:
a) School-level programmatic assessment of student learning (for all degree and certificate programs).

b) Bachelor degree level programmatic assessment of general education learning.

c) Evaluation of nonacademic/ support and student affairs units.

d) Institutional assessment/evaluation of educational and administrative effectiveness.

With respect to (c), evaluation of nonacademic/ support and student affairs units is defined by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness as follows (adapted from Banta & Palomba, 2015): Assessment: Aggregating individual measures for the purpose of discovering group strengths and weaknesses that can guide improvement actions.

WHY DOES ASSESSMENT MATTER?
With the constant changing work environment, there is a periodic need to review how jobs are defined, departments are organized, processes are structured, and problems are managed. The goal of assessment is to assist managers and deans in implementing effective action plans and appropriate solutions toward achievement of organizational objectives.
In essence, the point of assessment is not the sheer collection of reports and data; it is instead the application of the data to promote changes and developments within the organizational culture and operations. Collection without analysis and application is fruitless.
At VIU we conduct assessment both organizationally and academically. Organizationally, we conduct goal-setting exercises in each department, all of which are tied to the strategic goals of the institution. This process is important because it is what drives fulfillment of our institutional strategic plan. We have a direction that we need to go in, and by monitoring and evaluating performance and achievement, we are able to ensure that we are getting there. Academically, we are looking to fulfill student learning outcomes for each program. All assessment is centered around measurement of what learning is taking place.
We want to be sure that our students learn what they set out to, in order to be successful after graduation. Additionally, we are able to find weaknesses in the programs and drive curricular improvement, keeping the programs relevant and up-to-date, and providing a better product for VIU students.

WHO DOES ASSESSMENT IMPACT?
The short answer? Everyone! The structure is part of a systematized and organized process regulated by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Individual departments are responsible for the oversight and maintenance of assessment within their organization. This is accomplished by having an embedded focus on the analysis of assessment as essential components of each department, both academic and organizational. Therefore, departments are responsible for forming and maintaining assessments and assessment practices within their respective areas. Given that each organizational function is unique, all departments are tasked with determining a structure and function that is most conducive to their roles within the institution. As a result, the roles of all individuals at an institution might be articulated by the formalized structure of the work of the OIE.

WHAT ARE GOALS OF ASSESSMENT?
The most important information that VIU departments report to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (and what VIU must report to regulatory bodies) is how assessment results are being used toward improved or developed organizational and educational processes and procedures. We all want to improve, as individuals and departments and provide the best working and learning environment possible in a sustainable manner. We want our student services to be strong, just as we want our curriculum to be strong and relevant. Assessment helps us to take an objective look at what it is we are doing in the day-to-day operations to determine what is working well, and what is not working well. We can then readjust and align our objectives to be more focused, with the intended result of a better experience for all of the VIU community.

WHEN IS ASSESSMENT NEEDED?
Assessment never stops. Assessment at VIU involves the analysis and interpretation of information on employee and departmental performance as a basis for identifying needed improvement or development of educational and organizational processes.

IS IT AN ON-GOING PROJECT OR SOMETHING THAT IS LOOKED AT DURING CERTAIN PERIODS OF TIME?
Analysis relates to producing assessment results and involves summarizing, arranging, presenting, or otherwise rendering assessment data for interpretation and decision-making. VIU departments are asked to summarize and report results for all assessment data. For quantitatively-oriented data, reporting can be summaries of aggregated performance ratings or scores (e.g., percentiles, etc.). For qualitative/ textually-oriented results, departments can summarize prevailing trends or themes in the data (among other examples). However, it is an ongoing and continuous process that truly never ends.

HOW DO YOU USE THE INFORMATION GAINED THROUGH ASSESSMENT?
VIU’s OIE monitors steps the collection and use of data carefully. OIE (and SACS COC) is interested in knowing what VIU departments are learning about the effectiveness of their organizational processes on the basis of assessment results, and, where achievement or improvement has not happened as expected, what actions directors and employees are taking to enhance the quality of departmental delivery. This essentially establishes the use of assessment data for continuous improvement. The use and reuse of data/information occur over the lifetime of an assessment cycle and is intended to learn and grow along with the department (and employees).

UM Issue 8: Leaders of Tomorrow

New graduates often enter the workforce with the idea that they are the “leaders of tomorrow”
because that is what all of the old clichés have told them. They have long-term goals of landing
themselves a “leadership role” and often connect that with achieving success. But what is a
leadership role? What does it mean to be a leader?

Leaders are not appointed, promoted, or hired to be a leader. You do not become a leader automatically because you are a manager, an executive, or even the founder of a company. You may be a manager, but managers manage data, projects, and processes; people cannot be managed. You may be an entrepreneur who can organize and operate a business, but leadership is about more than keeping a company afloat. While there may be an expectation of you to be a leader as you rise up the ranks, not all people in positions of prestige, power, and status are leaders. In fact, the vast majority of people are not the leaders of tomorrow.

Leaders lead by example and inspire others to change. Effective leaders gain the respect of their followers and can influence them to want better, to do better, to be better. A leader does not control the team by giving orders but is wholeheartedly a part of that team. You lead a team by working alongside your people to help them and inspire them to achieve more, ultimately moving everyone toward a shared mission and vision. Mahatma Gandhi did not give orders or instill fear, but he got an entire nation to follow his lead because of genuine inspiration.

If your goal is simply to be successful in your personal pursuits, you may not be cut out to be a leader. But if your goal is to drive your organization to be successful, then you’re on the right track. When we live in a culture where personal success is defined as having achieved popularity, profit, or distinction and where competition has taken front stage, sometimes it can be hard to focus on the bigger picture. Leaders direct their focus away from themselves and toward the larger goal of building a successful organization. They still have ambition, but that ambition lies in the success of the organization, not themselves. A good leader is not concerned with being in the spotlight but is focused on results. The best way to measure the success of leaders is not in their personal success but in the success of those who follow them.

Now, it is not necessarily objectionable to say that your goal in life is to be personally successful and prosperous; after all, that is the American Dream, right? But you shouldn’t confuse or equate your position or personal success with that of being a leader. Leaders guide others to achieve success and appreciate what a high-performing team can accomplish rather than make their career about outdoing everyone else and rising to the top. No degree, no courses on leadership, and no extended time in a job is going to make you a leader. It is your attitude, your humility, your willingness to serve, your ability to communicate, and your sincere desire to make a difference that will naturally make people want to follow you. Don’t just aspire to be successful, aspire to lead. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Make a difference.

LEADERSHIP SIMPLIFIED
Effective leaders gain the respect of their followers and can influence them to want better, to do better, to be better. A leader does not control the team by giving orders but is wholeheartedly a part of that team. You lead a team by working alongside your people to help them and inspire them to achieve more, ultimately moving everyone toward a shared mission and vision.
1. INSPIRATION
To be a leader is to have a deep passion for fulfilling a mission and for inspiring others to follow you.
2. INTEGRITY
It takes putting aside your own self-interests for the sake of the greater good.
3. EMPOWERMENT
Building up others and appreciating their contributions instead of feeling threatened by them.
4. PASSION
Having greater visions of where your company is trying to go while leaving the path open for others to grow into leaders.

UM Issue 7: Alt-Rock Dreams

Sam Gaius is currently a VIU student studying for his Masters in Information Systems Management. He has performed at VIU Got Talent, VIU Idol, and other various events on and off-campus in the past and hopes to kick-start the VIU Music Club.

UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE: What first inspired you to start singing?
SAM GAIUS: Singing has been a personal interest of mine since childhood. We used to have a stereo in my house in India, and I used to play the cassettes over and over. I would rewind them in order to sing along and memorize the songs, so it just picked up from there. As I kept singing with these tapes, I realized you need to be able to play the instruments along with the songs as well, which eventually got me into playing guitar.

Do you play any other instruments in addition to the guitar?
Yes, I actually play the keyboard and drums as well.

You can play for a whole band! Do you have a specific genre that you listen to or play the most?
I am mostly interested in playing and listening to alternative rock music. Since I play the guitar, and a lot of alt-rock songs are guitar-heavy, it has inspired me in my own compositions. I don’t only listen to this genre though – I also enjoy listening to EDM (electronic dance music) and pop.

Do you have any favorite bands or artists that have heavily inspired you in the alternative rock realm?
I would say I am more influenced by specific artists like John Mayer, BB King, Myles Kennedy, and David Gilmour. These musicians have inspired me in my guitar playing, vocally, and lyrically. When it comes to influential bands though, I would say some of my favorites include Alter Bridge and Metallica.

What are your “go-to” songs to listen to or perform that inspire you the most from the alternative rock genre?
Well, good things come in threes and so I have three great songs that I would consider my “go-to” songs – "Neon" by John Mayer; "Brand New Start" by Alter Bridge; and "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison.

Do you write your own original songs?
I’m currently working on that. I usually perform covers at shows, but hopefully, I’ll be able to start singing my own songs someday soon. I usually like to freestyle and play whatever is in my head when I’m practicing so I would like that to turn into something as opposed to just practicing a cover. It makes it easier and makes it fun.

We’re looking forward to hearing some originals! Would you like to pursue a career in music?
As of right now, I am concentrating on my studies, receiving my diploma and finding a job. Music is obviously something I would love to do, and love doing, so I am always going to make time for it in between my coursework and take whatever chance to play.

Since you are concentrating on your master's, how do you have the time to balance music between school, work, family, and friends?
Because I’m so busy, these days I only have the time to play my music in my alone time, essentially as a hobby. This is okay with me, though, since it’s something I’m passionate about. Like I mentioned before though if the opportunity arises for me to be able to share my talent in music, I’ll always take it.

So one of those opportunities you mentioned was VIU Got Talent – we saw your performance and it was great. Congratulations on 3rd place! Were you nervous before the performance, or do you have any preshow rituals that eased your mind?
I was definitely a little nervous before the performance, but you just have to realize that it’s all for fun. You wouldn’t be doing it if you didn’t already love it, and I really do love music. It isn’t about winning or losing; it’s about sharing your talent and having fun. I don’t do anything to prepare before a show for good luck except practice, sleep, and pray. I just go for it.

Do you have any advice for people who are afraid or nervous to perform in front of an audience?
You should be playing, practicing, and performing for yourself – not for anyone else. If you are out there to have fun and enjoy your time, then you will be a lot less nervous.

Issue 7: Homemade Music for the Soul

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF HOMEMADESOUL MUSIC

Based in Chesapeake, Virginia, Homemadesoul Music is a music licensing and publishing firm created to partner with independent artists. Curtis Clarke, Founder and President of Homemadesoul Music, is an artist himself. We caught him on the phone to get some insight on the music-making process and his newest song, “Everything.”

UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE: First off, we want to thank you for taking the time out of your day to sit down with us. University Magazine and its readers are excited to get to know more about HomemadeSoul Music. You are the president and founder of your own Virginia-based music licensing and publishing firm. What’s the story behind your inspiration and establishment of HomemadeSoul?
CURTIS CLARK: No problem, I’m happy to share my story with you all. HomemadeSoul stands for original music of the soul. No matter what the genre or how it is created, it’s totally from the soul and original ideas. It is inspired by and an extension of myself. I have been performing for the public for the last 15 years, and so I’ve been doing this same thing with music for that amount of time. It’s a whole different industry than any other in the music business, so HomemadeSoul music is about educating artists, like myself, about the vast opportunities available. It’s based on cultivating artists, helping them create their own business endeavors, and seeing them flourish just like I have.

UM: That sounds like an amazing opportunity for your artists. We’ve also heard that you’ve recently released your own single, “Everything,” in March. It has been described online as “a song that embodies the name of the company.” What can you tell us about the song?
CC: The song, “Everything,” is modeled stylistically after my idol, D’Angelo. It follows the philosophy of HomemadeSoul music as an original idea that came from my heart while embodying that word, “HomemadeSoul.” I collaborated with Natasha Jeter, who works at Virginia International University, on this song. The words are from her, but the idea and the concept of “Everything” was collectively produced by us. I wasn’t planning on releasing the song, but I kind of have this tendency to go off on a hunch and do things as I feel it naturally. When the song was finished, I just knew I had to put it out with a video.

UM: What was the process of co-writing and producing “Everything” with Ms. Natasha Jeter like?
CC: It was a quick process. Ms. Jeter and I met at a conference last year before writing anything together, so we already knew we had a good vibe to work off of. I had heard some of her music, and so when the concept for “Everything” came up, I saw an opportunity to use her talents and attacked it. I knew she could encompass that D’Angelo vibe I was looking for.

UM: Do you have any new projects we can look forward to?
CC: As a matter of fact, I’m working on one of my most significant projects right now. The concept is based on 1 Corinthians 13, a chapter from the Bible that is entitled, “The Way of Love.” It is considered to be the ultimate definition of love. I plan for each verse from 1 Corinthians 13 to have an audio track, a song, and a music video to reflect my interpretation on love. So there will be 13 audio chapters, 13 songs, and 13 videos in total.

Like I mentioned before, I’m an artist that works on a hunch, so if something comes up before that I’ll work from there. For example, I had an instinct for a song just a few weeks ago that I have Ms.
Jeter writing lyrics to right now. I also have a rapper waiting for a track from me that I conceptualized not too long ago. I am currently working overseas, but I feel if these tracks come to life, I will probably end up releasing them while I’m here.

UM: Looking through your website, HomemadeSoul Music supports a vast variety of artists around the world. How do you recommend an emerging international artist to start out in the music business? CC: Focus on creating your own business structure and reaching your audience while maintaining what makes you an artist in the first place. The audience matters, and they will not support something that you are not passionate about. You can’t do what another artist does – everyone needs to embrace their own creativity and stick to your values, stick to what makes you.
UM: Do you have any advice for students who are following their dreams in other fields?
CC: Discipline, hard work, and consistency are all that matter to achieve your goals. No one is going to have a straight path to the peak of success, so you cannot get distracted. What you’re doing might not seem like it matters right now, but if you stay persistent and focused on your end goal, you can easily shoot for the stars and get to where you really want to be. You can learn more about HomemadeSoul Music at www.homemadesoulmusic.com. Like HomemadeSoul Music on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IamCurtisClark, or follow HomemadeSoul Music on Twitter @homemadesoul.

Issue 7: Data Science. The Biggest Buzz Word of the Decade.

Data science is all about analyzing data using mathematical models and deriving algorithms useful for making decisions in the future. The field of data science offers many employment opportunities due to rapid growth and unusual explosion of data in the recent years. An interested party should have the ability to invest time and hard work in mastering the concepts of data analysis and design. 

Issue 7: Keeping Tradition Alive

My “Cindy” Huynh is a proud VIU alumna, focused on sharing her knowledge in English with those who would like to learn the language. Throughout her time in the United States, My has found ways to adapt to American culture while maintaining her country’s traditions through singing, dancing, and more. We asked her some questions about her Vietnamese culture and her experience at VIU.