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Strategic Initiatives
AMCOA advances assessment of student learning on public campuses and strengthens campus assessment capabilities.
Robert J. Awkward, Ph.D.,
Assistant Commissioner for Academic Effectiveness
(617) 994-6908
rawkward@dhe.mass.edu
2011 – Present
David Educational Fund (2011-2013)
Public Higher Ed System
Student Learning Outcomes
Assessment Advisory Council
Multi-State Collaborative
Research shows that the best way to determine what college students know and can do is to examine their learning outcomes from multiple viewpoints. Massachusetts is part of a national effort to develop student learning assessment tools that capture the complexity of college learning better than a single standardized test, and allows for comparisons between public campuses in the state and similiar institutions in other states. Though the work is challenging, being able to assess and compare student learning will improve teaching and help campuses not only identify problem areas but understand how to solve them.
Advancing a Massachusetts Culture of Assessment (AMCOA) is led by a team of faculty and staff from each of the 28 undergraduate campuses, with the goal of advancing assessment of student learning through information sharing about best practices and campuses experiences; provision of faculty and staff professional development opportunities; and cross-institution, collaborative experiments with assessment approaches and technology. AMCOA was funded by the David Educational Foundation from May 2011 until May 2013, and is now supported by the DHE and the campuses.
Membership consists of representatives from each of the 28 public higher education campuses, appointed by the respective president/chancellor. The AMCOA team is led by the Board of Higher Education Director of Learning Outcomes Assessment.
| Berkshire Community College | Jennifer Berne, Vice President of Academic Affairs Lauren Goodman, Director of the Center for Teaching & Learning Charles Prescott, Professor of English & Department Chair |
|---|---|
| Bristol Community College | C. Chad Argotsinger, Acting Dean, Lash Center for Teaching & Learning Jennifer Boulay, Academic Coordinator, Lash Center for Teaching & Learning Suzanne Buglione, Dean, Lash Center for Teaching and Learning Rhonda Gabovitch, Vice President of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment Angelina O'Brien, Director of Institutional Research Karl Schnapp, Center for Teaching and Learning |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Aurora Baptista, Professor of Behavioral Sciences Perla Gilman, Assistant Professor & Chair, Medical Laboratory Technician Program David Leavitt, Executive Director of Institutional Research |
| Cape Cod Community College | Trish Allen, Faculty Coordinator of The Learning Center William Berry, Professor, Language and Literature Department Maureen O'Shea, Director of Institutional Research and Planning |
| Greenfield Community College | Marie Breheny, Director of Assessment |
| Holyoke Community College | Judy Turcotte, Director of Planning and Assessment |
| MassBay Community College | Alan Goldman, Associate Professor, Humanities Courtney Jackson, Chief Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Officer Nina Keery, Professor, English Bonnie Stevenson, Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness & Strategic Initiatives |
| Massasoit Community College | Rita Jones-Hyde, Assistant Professor of Humanities and Fine Arts |
| Middlesex Community College | Cathy Pride, Professor of Psychology John Savage, Chair, Assessment Committee Peter Shea, Director of Professional Development |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | Michelle Paranto, Dean of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment Dan Soucy, Associate Professor of Philosophy |
| North Shore Community College | Cate Kaluzny, Senior Specialist, Learner Outcomes and Civic Engagement Maria Vazquez , Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science |
| Northern Essex Community College | Kim Burns, Dean of Academic Innovations Scott Joubert, Professor of Criminal Justice Suzanne VanWert, Faculty Coordinator of The Learning Center |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Amy Beaudry, Professor of English Gaelan Benway, Professor of Sociology Ken Dwyer, Dean of Academic & Online Technology |
| Roxbury Community College | Ben Anilus, Math Dept. Faculty Joyce Atkinson, Coordinator of Academic Support Jeffrey Breitenfeldt, Assistant Professor of English Stacy Gosselin, Assistant Professor & Program Coordinator, Radiologic Tech. Kimberly Rogers, Assistant Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs |
| Springfield Technical Community College | Ann-Marie Simao, Associate Professor of Mathematics Tracey Trottier, Director of Assessment |
| Bridgewater State University | John Marvelle, Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education Ruth Slotnick, Director of Assessment Michael Young, Associate Provost for Academic Planning and Administration |
|---|---|
| Fitchburg State University | Merri Incitt, Director of Assessment Kate Jewell , Professor of History, Co-Director CTL Pamela McCafferty, Assistant VP, Institutional Research |
| Framingham State University | Jon Huibregtse, CELTSS Director Mark Nicholas, Executive Director of Assessment Charles Sachs, Assistant Professor of Psychology |
| MassArt | Karalynn Gau, Executive Director of Institutional Research Dan Serig, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
| MCLA | Jason Canales, Research Analyst Chali Nondo, Associate Professor of Business Administration Erin Milne, Director of Assessment |
| Mass Maritime | Marlene Clapp, Director of Institutional Effectiveness John Korn, Dean of Undergraduate Studies Mark Patrick, Dean of Academic Affairs |
| Salem State University | Marc Boots-Ebenfield, Director, Center for Teaching Innovation Neal DeChillo, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs |
| Westfield State University | Lisa Plantefaber, Assciate Dean of Institutional Research |
| Worcester State University | Sue Foo, Center for Teaching and Learning and Professor, Education Department Bonnie Orcutt, Professor of Economics Sarah Strout, Director of Assessment |
| UMass Amherst | Martha Stessen , Assistant Provost, Assessment & Educational Effectiveness Claire Hamilton, Associate Provost & Director of the Institute for Teaching & Learning |
|---|---|
| UMass Boston | Neal Bruss, Associate Professor, English Department Douglas Ducharme, Associate Director for Assessment & Institutional Research Karen Ricciardi, Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies |
| UMass Dartmouth | Jonathan Bonilla, Institutional Research Analyst Tammy Silva, Director of Institutional Research |
| UMass Lowell | Johanna Choo, Lecturer, Biological Sciences Paula Haines, Director of Curriculum, Assessment, & Accreditation Alice Frye, Senior Lecturer, Psychology Department |
| UMass President's Office | Sandra Blanchette, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
AMCOA Team Meeting
Remote/Zoom
November 20, 2020
Download: 
Dr. Mark Nicholas' presentation on "Assumptions about Creating Classroom Assignments That Can Be Used for Institutional Assessment" || Article
AMCOA Team Meeting
Remote/Zoom
October 2, 2020
Download: Dr. Gavin Henning's presentation on "Implementing Socially Just Assessment to Foster Inclusion & Equity"
AMCOA Team Meeting
Remote/Zoom
June 25, 2020
Download: Agenda Virtual Course Equity Rubric
AMCOA Team Meeting
Quinsigamond Community College
February 7, 2020
Download: Agenda 
LARC Professional Development Modules Assessment Planning for Instutional Teams DHE LOA State of Assessment 2019 Recast Annual Assessment Conference 2020 Hold the Date
AMCOA Team Meeting
Quinsigamond Community College
November 11, 2019
Download: Agenda Equity & Excellence in Teaching & Learning Assessment Technology Landscape Updated DHE LOA State of Assessment
AMCOA Team Meeting
Quinsigamond Community College
Septemnber 13, 2019
Download: Agenda Real Time Assessment (Peggy Maki) Handouts DHE Learning Outcomes Assessment
AMCOA Team Meeting
Quinsigamond Community College
April 5, 2019
Download: Agenda Building a Comprehensive Student Affairs Assessment Program
AMCOA Team Meeting
Quinsigamond Community College
February 1, 2019
Download: Agenda QORE Presentation Oral Presentation Assignment Framework
AMCOA Team Meeting
Quinsigamond Community College
November 30, 2018
Download: Agenda DHE Learning Outcomes Assessment E-Series: Making Assessment More Meaningful Revisited
(NECHE)
AMCOA Team Meeting
Quinsigamond Community College
September 28, 2018
Download: Agenda DHE Learning Outcomes Assessment Institutional Assessment at FSU UMass Amherst Assessment Program The ACUE Experience (Salem State)
AMCOA Team Meeting
Quinsigamond Community College
March 29, 2018
Download: Agenda Exercise
AMCOA Team Meeting
Quinsigamond Community College
February 2, 2018
Download: Agenda MassTransfer Implementation Guidelines Introduction to Portfolium 
Porfolium Use Cases
AMCOA Team Meeting
Quinsigamond Community College
November 30, 2017
Download: Agenda
AMCOA Team Meeting
Worcester State University
September 29, 2017
Download: Agenda DHE Learning Outcomes Assessment Student Success Through Quality Instruction
AMCOA Team Meeting
Quinsigamond Community College
March 31, 2017
Download: Agenda DHE Assessment Update Emerging Trends in Technology for Real-Time Assessment Winklemes TILT Powerpoint
AMCOA Team Meeting
Middlesex Community College
February 2, 2017
Download: Agenda DHE Learning Outcomes Assessment Update Group Work
AMCOA Team Meeting
Holyoke Community College
December 2, 2016
Download: Agenda DHE Learning Outcomes Assessment
AMCOA Team Meeting
UMass Lowell
September 29, 2016
Download: Back to the Future
Addressing Equity Through Assessment—Mutually Reinforcing Objectives
Friday, October 30, 2020
Virtual
The Intersectionality of Equity, Quality, & Student Learning
Friday, April 19, 2019
Best Western Royal Plaza
Marlborough, MA
The Continuing Importance of Assessment: From the Classroom to Program to Institutional Levels
Friday, April 20, 2018
Doubletree by Hilton
Westborough, MA
Advancing the Work of Assessment: Best Practices, Tools, & Resources
Friday, April 21, 2017
Doubletree by Hilton
Westborough, MA
Teaching With an Outcomes Approach: Assessment for Faculty Change Agents
Friday, April 22, 2016
Holiday Inn Boxborough
Boxborough, MA
Our Shared Commitment to Student Learning
Friday, April 24, 2015
Holiday Inn Boxborough
Boxborough, MA
Teaching & Reflection: Learning from Assessment
Friday, April 18, 2014
Holiday Inn Boxborough
Boxborough, MA
Assessing Critical Thinking and Writing Using the VALUE Rubrics: Do You See What I See?
Friday, February 22, 2013
UMass Boston Campus Center
Boston, MA
Taking Stock: How Far Have We Come and Where Should We Go?
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center
Marlborough, MA
Assessing Student Learning Outcomes Within and Across the Disciplines
Thursday, February 9, 2012
UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center
Lowell, MA
Quantitative Reasoning: Looking Beyond the Numbers
Friday, October 19, 2012
Worcester State University
Worcester, MA
Effective Partnerships and Processes That Build and Sustain a Commitment to Assessing Student Learning: Where Are We Now?
Friday, September 30, 2011
Worcester State University
Worcester, MA
Assessing Student Learning Outcomes Within and Across the Disciplines
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Greenfield Community College
Greenfield, MA
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events at this time. Please check back later.
Past Events
Quantitative Literacy Faculty Workshop
October 11, 2019
9:00a.m.–1:30p.m.
University Crossing, Rm. 490
290 Pawtucket St,
UMass Lowell
Download: Flyer
Assignment Design Charrette
November 2, 2018
9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.
North Shore Community College
Download: Flyer | Presentation | 
Group Photo
Build your Plan: Campus Professional Decelopment for Successful Assessment Practice
June 12, 2018
10:00a.m.-1:00p.m.
UMass Lowell
Download: Flyer
E-Series Forms & Meaningful Campus Assessment
July 10, 2017
12:00p.m.-3:00p.m.
Riverview Suites, Rm. 158
UMass Lowell
Download: Flyer
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events at this time. Please check back later.
Past Events
Quantitative Literacy Faculty Workshop
October 18, 2019
10:00a.m.–1:45p.m.
Chancellor’s
Conference Room
Quinn Building, 3rd Floor
100 William T.
Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, 02125
UMass Boston
Download: Flyer
Assignment Design Workshop
December 7, 2018
9:00a.m.–1:00p.m.
UMass Boston
Download: Agenda Presentation
Presentation on Academic Program Assessment with Mark Nicholas
March 8, 2018
1:30p.m.–3:30p.m.
Building 4, Rm. 300
Roxbury Community College
Download: Agenda Flyer
Upcoming Events
Equity-Minded Assessment: Meeting the Challenges of the New Decade, Today
March 6, 2020
8:30pa.m.–12:00p.m.
Quinsigamond Community College
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/equity-minded-assessment-tickets-93548007609
Download: Event Flyer
Past Events
Quantitative Literacy Faculty Workshop
October 25, 2019
9:00a.m.–1:30p.m.
Ahlfors Hall, Rm. 107
670 West Boylston St., Worcester, 01606
Quinsigamond Community College
Download: Flyer
Nimbly Interpreting and Using Assessment Results to Advance All Students Toward Achieving High-Quality Program and Institution-Level Outcomes
February 23, 2018
12:00p.m.–4:00p.m.
Center for Academic Excellence, Ahlfors Building, Rm. 107
Quinsigamond Community College
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events at this time. Please check back later.
Past Events
Civic Learning Assignment Design Charrette
May 24, 2018
12:00p.m.–3:00p.m.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Registration: bit.ly/amcoa-mma
Download: Event Flyer
Information Literacy Charrette
May 23, 2017
Massasoit Community College
Download: Event Flyer
Upcoming Events
Equity-Minded Assessment: Meeting the Challenges of the New Decade, Today
March 6, 2020
8:30a.m.–12:00p.m.
Quinsigamond Community College
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/equity-minded-assessment-tickets-93548007609
Download: Event Flyer
Past Events
Quantitative Literacy Faculty Workshop
October 25, 2019
9:00a.m.–1:30p.m.
The Kittredge Center, Rm. 301
303 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, 01040
Holyoke Community College
Download: Flyer
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