Administration

Penn State launches new Assessment Management System

Assessment leaders have a new tool to streamline assessment tracking and reporting

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research has launched the University’s new online Assessment Management System (AMS) for use in program learning outcomes assessment. The launch of the AMS caps off a successful year of pilot testing with a diverse user group whose extensive feedback resulted in a highly customized and efficient tool for Penn State’s assessment reporting needs.

“We cannot thank our pilot participants enough,” said Lance Kennedy-Phillips, vice provost for Planning and Assessment. “The tool is much better than it was a year ago and we look forward to additional user feedback this year so that we can continue improving it for our users.”

The AMS will replace the system of digital templates and Box folders used for program learning outcomes assessment reporting since 2016 and also will be used to support unit-level strategic planning and accreditation. Goals of the AMS implementation include: standardizing the assessment and planning processes while still allowing for unit flexibility; reducing workloads for assessment, accreditation and planning leaders; and increasing unit ownership of these processes. By providing a streamlined system for the collection and distribution of assessment and planning information, the AMS provides a mechanism for coherent, reliable data for administrators and executives. It also will provide a central repository for information that can provide continuity as individual roles change and a resource to track trends over time.

More information about the AMS can be found online at https://opair.psu.edu/learning-outcomes-assessment/ams/. Questions about the AMS can be directed to Betty Harper, assistant director of learning outcomes assessment, at bharper@psu.edu or 814-863-8721.

Last Updated February 18, 2020