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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 Stacy Evans, Center for Teaching & Learning Center Faculty Fellow 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 Suzanne Buglione, Dean, Lash Center for Teaching and Learning William Duffy, Academic Innovation & Professional Development Rhonda Gabovitch, Vice President of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment Angelina O'Brien, Director of Institutional Research Dorris Perryman, Department Chair & Associate Professor of Accounting Jennifer Puniello, Associate Dean, Academic Innovation & Professional Development |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Perla Gilman, Assistant Professor & Chair, Medical Laboratory Technician Program Arlene Vallie, Interim Dean, Academic Affairs (Research & Assessment) |
| Cape Cod Community College | Trish Allen, Faculty Coordinator of The Learning Center William Berry, Professor, Language and Literature Department |
| Greenfield Community College | Marie Breheny, Director of Assessment |
| Holyoke Community College | Kris Choleva, Director of Planning, Curriculum & 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 | John Savage, Chair, Assessment Committee Peter Shea, Director of Professional Development |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | John Eisler, Associate Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs, |
| North Shore Community College | Andrea Milligan, Director, Center for Teaching & Learning Luciano Sappia, Associate Professor, Business Administration Kimberly Stevens, Sr. Specialist for Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes |
| Northern Essex Community College | Scott Joubert, Professor of Criminal Justice Kirsten Kortz, Director of Academic Policy, Curriculum & Assessment |
| 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. |
| 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 | Kate Jewell, Professor of History, Co-Director CTL Cate Kaluzny, Director of Assessment Pamela McCafferty, Assistant VP, Institutional Research Sarah Wright, Assistant Professor of Mathematics |
| Framingham State University | Jon Huibregtse, CELTSS Director Larry McKenna, III, Professor of Environmental Science Mark Nicholas, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs |
| MassArt | Judith Leeman, Associate Professor of Fibers Karalynn Gau, Executive Director of Institutional Research Dan Serig, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
| MCLA | Erin Milne, Director of Assessment Paul Petritis, Dean of Graduate & Continuing Education |
| Mass Maritime | Marlene Clapp, Director of Institutional Effectiveness S. Elaine Craghead, Assistant Dean of Academic Resources |
| Salem State University | Bruce Perry, Assistant Dean, Enrollment Management & Student Life Megan Williams, Director of Research Administration |
| Westfield State University | Lisa Plantefaber, Assciate Dean of Institutional Research |
| Worcester State University | Bonnie Orcutt, Professor of Economics Emily Soltano, Director, Center for Teaching & Learning Sarah Strout, Director of Assessment |
| UMass Amherst | Claire Hamilton, Associate Provost & Director of the Institute for Teaching & Learning Alicia Remaly, Associate Director of Assessment Martha Stessen, Associate Provost, Assessment & Educational Effectiveness |
|---|---|
| UMass Boston | Neal Bruss, Associate Professor, English Department Catherine Gildae, Associate Director, 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 Alice Frye, Senior Lecturer, Psychology Department Paula Haines, Sr. Director of Curriculum, Assessment & Accreditation |
| UMass President's Office | Candyce Carragher, Senior Executive Associate to the Senior Vice President Robert Gamache, SVP, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs &International Relations |
AMCOA Team Meeting
Remote/Zoom
March 12, 2021
Download: 
Karen Ricciardi, UMass Boston: Assessment of Writing Proficiency Using E-Portfolios Erin Milne and Christopher MacDoanld-Dennis, MCLA: Redesigning the Core Curriculum 
Paula Haines, UMass Lowell, Using MS Teams to Organize NECHE Work Products
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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