UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State is committed to using assessment evidence to improve student learning and help students graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in their future careers or studies. To this end, all degree programs and for-credit certificates engage in learning outcomes assessment, following either the University’s prescribed process or the process required by their disciplinary accrediting body.

Annual reports are due June 30 and are submitted using the online Assessment Management System (AMS). The Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research (OPAIR) assessment liaisons support assessment leaders in designing effective and efficient assessment processes.

To assist new AMS users, OPAIR is hosting a series of Zoom training sessions to take place March through June.

Two types of training are being offered:

— Assessment Management System (AMS) training for Assessment Leaders/Annual Reporting is designed to support Assessment Leaders who have been charged with reporting assessment plans and results for graduate and undergraduate programs and for-credit certificates.  This is a two-hour session that introduces users to the most common tasks that they will complete in the AMS. Examples include editing and archiving program learning objectives (PLOs), entering assessment plans and assessment results, including documents and other evidence in the plans, submitting plans, and producing assessment reports.

— Assessment Management System (AMS) training for Academic Administrators and Disciplinary Community Members focuses on accessing summary information available to academic leaders such as associate deans for undergraduate/graduate education and directors of academic affairs. Assessment leaders who are also members of designated disciplinary communities, where a credential is offered at multiple locations, should also attend. This one-hour session provides instructions for accessing an overview of the assessment status and assessment details for all the programs in an individual college, campus, or disciplinary community, as appropriate.

To register for either or both sessions, visit Penn State’s LRN and search using the keyword “AMS”.  Self-guided training is also available. Users can visit the AMS Training Resources website to download training manuals and access pre-recorded training.

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact your assessment liaison.