The purpose of the assessment program, simply put, is student development.

What is assessment?

Assessment is a tool for enhancing students' academic, social, and spiritual development at Hope College. The first step in assessment is the clear articulation of the goals of a department, a program, or an administrative unit. Various indices then are selected to provide information about how well those goals are being met. The information is used to suggest programmatic, pedagogical, and curricular changes in order to enhance students' development.

Why do assessment?

Assessment offers an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and administrators to work together toward specified goals in a climate of inclusion, openness, and trust. Assessment provides the information needed to ensure that all college programs continually are improving in their ability to meet their goals and carry out the mission of the college.

Who does assessment?

Assessment is best done by those students, faculty, staff, and administrators directly involved with the department, program, or administrative unit being assessed. Collectively, they will articulate their goals, design a plan for gathering information, evaluate their results, report their findings, and develop and implement programmatic improvements.

How should assessment be done?

Assessment should be an inclusive, cooperative effort involving students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Multiple methods, generally including both qualitative and quantitative measures, should be used because convergent findings are more trustworthy than isolated results.

How will information gained from assessment be used?

Our focus must be the continual improvement of programs designed to foster students' academic, social, and spiritual development.