Dr. Bill Schafer, vice president of WVU Student Life, has collaborated with his peers in higher education administration around the nation to write “Leading Assessment for Student Success: Ten Tenets That Change Culture and Practice in Student Affairs,” published in November 2015 by Stylus Publishing, LLC.
The authors of the book are all experienced senior-level leaders who have established programs that exemplify a culture of evidence-based practice and have identified and developed ten tenets of practice for leading and implementing a culture of change committed to student learning and sound assessment methods.
Schafer co-authored a chapter titled, “Tenet Four: Strategies to Engage Staff in Commitment and Assessment,” with Dr. Brenda Woods, director of Research and Assessment and chair of the assessment team at Georgia Institute of Technology.
The premise of the book is that the senior student affairs officer must be the primary leader and spokesperson in developing a culture of assessment in their division, both in setting the tone and keeping all members of their team accountable for implementation and the commitment of their units.
“I am very proud of the work of my vice president and assessment colleagues around the nation who came together to collaborate on the important topic of student success,” said Schafer. “I believe this book will help guide our student life professionals in how thoughtful and continuous assessment practices drive student success initiatives.”
According to the books description, “The book explains how to tell the story of assessment while engaging each student affairs team member on your campus, whether it is the senior student affairs officer or a front-line professional. Each chapter builds on the previous, making the case for why assessment matters and how to implement assessment practice, so that inquiry becomes a priority, deeply embedded into the daily work of all who believe in and contribute to student success.”
The book opens with an overview of history and purpose and language of assessment and how it relates to education mission of student affairs. Subsequent chapters address the process of gaining “buy-in” and the importance in understanding the unique culture of an institution. The book concludes by summarizing the essential assessment practices and tools that senior leaders need to be aware of and how to establish a strategic plan that is aligned with the institutional mission.
For more information or to purchase a copy of the book, visit https://sty.presswarehouse.com/books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=400261.
-WVU-
ta/12/8/15
CONTACT: Sabrina Cave, Student Life
Sabrina.cave@mail.wvu.edu; 304.293.2506
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