The Assessment and Outreach Center (AOC) provides student assessment services and shares Alverno's assessment model with educators and researchers. The AOC also assists with evaluating the
effectiveness of the college's ability-based curriculum. The office is located in Founders Hall, Room 427.
Students complete faculty assessments and Credit for Prior Learning
assessments to earn credits for some introductory coursesin the AOC office. The AOC also coordinates a required assessment for new students. The
AOC recruits and trains area professionals through Alverno's Volunteer Assessor Program to assist staff and
faculty in providing feedback for students during the assessment.
The AOC also schedules Mid-Semester Assessments and Final Assessments.
Educational Outreach
The AOC works to share Alverno's ability-based curriculum and model for student learning with colleges and schools around the world. The AOC does this work
by:
Managing Alverno's publications that focus on topics such as student
assessment, teaching in an ability-based curriculum, and student learning outcomes.
Arranging consultation services with educational institutions, nationally and internationally. Alverno's faculty help these institutions transform
their theory and practice of teaching, learning and assessment and revise their organization structures.
Program Evaluation
The AOC studies and evaluates student learning, progress, development, and performance to determine the effectiveness of
the college's ability-based curriculum. The department works with faculty, staff, and administrators to assess how well students are achieving learning outcomes at the
level of the course, program, and institution.
The department's focus on evaluating the curriculum has a broad range. The department examines individual assessments to see how well students
are achieving learning outcomes. It also uses surveys to analyze how the curriculum affects students after graduation. Studying who changes, who benefits and why gives the college a
better understanding of how college-learned abilities affect alumnae performance in work and in their personal lives. This evaluation helps the college share its curriculum with other
educators through workshop events the AOC coordinates and consultation services that the department arranges.
The AOC also supports accreditation and grant evaluation efforts in the college.
This annual event brings together mental health practitioners, community leaders, and students to explore a relevant topic in the field of mental health. The topic for the 2021
summit is Healing Power of Community.
