This book discusses recent trends in outcomes assessment, examines how state governments are reshaping the national discussion with higher education, and explains how libraries must respond to these changes. Higher Education Outcomes Assessment for the Twenty-first Century focuses on recent developments in outcomes assessment, especially from the perspectives of the federal government and state governments, as well as foundations concerned about the state of higher education. The authors identify the significant changes that these stakeholders call for—information that academic librarians and anyone following outcomes assessment need to be aware of—and interpret the discussions to identify implications for libraries. Building upon the foundation of knowledge presented in the previous two Libraries Unlimited Outcomes Assessment in Higher Education titles, this book provides readers with up-to-date coverage of topics such as the emerging metrics used to define student and institutional success; the increased importance of accountability and the need to compare and assess the performance of programs and institutions rather than individual courses; and the shift in prioritizing student outcomes over student learning outcomes. The authors also spotlight the critical need for libraries to fit their role within the national discussion and suggest ways in which library managers and directors can play a role in redirecting the discussion to their benefit.

Focused on improving student learning, the Degree Qualifications Profile (DQP) and related Tuning process work together to inform curricular design, classroom assignments, and approaches to assessment. Covering the current field and drawing on numerous examples to illustrate the implications and challenges for IR professionals, this volume provides: an overview of the work, discussions outlining what the DQP and Tuning are, how IR has been involved, and what the future might hold for IR in these efforts. This is the 165th volume of this Jossey-Bass quarterly report series. Timely and comprehensive, New Directions for Institutional Research provides planners and administrators in all types of academic institutions with guidelines in such areas as resource coordination, information analysis, program evaluation, and institutional management.

Examines the Association of Research Libraries' "new measures" initiative. In response to the changes that digital information brought about in libraries, this collection of articles explains how the Association of Research Libraries is developing new measures for evaluating library services and holdings.

Everyone agrees that evaluation of library services is essential, but without a background in research it can be a challenge to apply abstract concepts such as strategic planning, evidence-based decision making, and accountability to real-world situations. Finally library managers have a workbook to help them master key concepts of service quality assessment, offering directed exercises and worksheets to guide them. Firmly rooted in practical application, this book Presents an overview of evaluation and the types of metrics, linking them to strategic planning and infrastructure Examines qualitative versus quantitative measures Shows how to decide which metrics are relevant to one’s own institution, covering benchmarking, best practices, peer group filters, and those metrics that offer a high return on investment Includes pointers for launching and maintaining successful library evaluation through flexibility and smart delegation among library staff Offers advice on marshaling data to effectively communicate the value and impact of a library and its services, no matter the audience Complete with a detailed list of sources for metrics and concrete examples of evaluation in practice, this workbook will be both valuable and immediately useful to managers at academic and public libraries, as well as to library trustees and others interested in assessing service quality.

Academic and public libraries are continuing to transform as the information landscape changes, expanding their missions into new service roles that call for improved organizational performance and accountability. Since Assessing Service Quality premiered in 1998, receiving the prestigious Highsmith Library Literature Award, scores of library managers and administrators have trusted its guidance for applying a customer-centered approach to service quality and performance evaluation. This extensively revised and updated edition explores even further the ways technology influences both the experiences of library customers and the ways libraries themselves can assess those experiences. With a clear focus on real-world application, the authors Challenge conventional thinking about the utility of input, output, and performance metrics by suggesting new ways to think about the evaluation and assessment of library servicesExplain service quality and customer satisfaction, and demonstrate how they are separate but intertwinedIdentify procedures for qualitatively and quantitatively measuring both service quality and satisfactionEncourage libraries to take action by presenting concrete steps they can take to become more customer-centricOffer a range of customer-related metrics that provide insights useful for library planning and decision making, such as surveys and focus groupsThis book shows how to nurture an environment of continuous improvement through effective service quality assessment.

Community-engaged scholarship is an equitable and democratic approach to scholarship that seeks to identify and solve community-based problems. Community-engaged scholars aim to serve the public good by developing and sustaining community-campus partnerships built on trust, reciprocity, and mutual benefit. As universities orient themselves towards serving the public good, they face a number of challenges: faculty and students may not possess the competencies or commitment to build fruitful community partnerships, graduate and undergraduate students may lack the necessary training and mentorship required to develop their identity as community-engaged scholars, and institutional leaders may not know how to motivate faculty and students for this ambitious and challenging endeavor. Unless these challenges are addressed, universities will fail to prepare the next generation of community-engaged scholars. Preparing Students for Community-Engaged Scholarship in Higher Education is an essential research book that explores how faculty and academic leaders can create learning opportunities and intellectual cultures that support the development of community-engaged scholars. Additionally, it will examine how university coursework can help undergraduate and graduate students to develop the knowledge, skills, and commitments necessary for productive and responsible community-engaged scholarship. Featuring a range of topics such as mentorship, higher education, and service learning, this book is ideal for higher education faculty, university leaders, deans, chairs, educators, administrators, policymakers, curriculum designers, academicians, researchers, and students.

Quality and the Academic Library: Reviewing, Assessing and Enhancing Service Provision provides an in-depth review and analysis of quality management and service quality in academic libraries. All aspects of quality are considered in the book, including quality assessment, quality review, and quality enhancement. An overview of quality management and service quality concepts, principles, and methods leads to a detailed consideration of how they have been applied in universities and their libraries. A case study approach is used with different perspectives provided from the different stakeholders involved in the quality processes. All contributors adopt a critical reflection approach, reflecting on the implications, impact, and significance of the activities undertaken and the conclusions that can be drawn for future developments. The book concludes with an overall reflection on quality management and service quality in academic libraries with a final analysis of priorities for the future. Presents a holistic view of the subject, looking at reviews of academic library services, quality assurance and assessment, quality enhancement, and service quality Provides perspectives from authors with different experiences and responsibilities, including those responsible for initiating and managing quality processes in higher education Includes case studies where the authors not only describe the quality processes used, but also seek to review and reflect on their success, limitations, and the impact of their work some time after the event Seeks to be current, comprehensive, and reflective by including the results of surveys/interviews from senior librarians on quality in academic libraries

Complex problem solving (CPS) and related topics such as dynamic decision-making (DDM) and complex dynamic control (CDC) represent multifaceted psychological phenomena. In abroad sense, CPS encompasses learning, decision-making, and acting in complex and dynamic situations. Moreover, solutions to problems that people face in such situations are often generated in teams or groups. This adds another layer of complexity to the situation itself because of the emerging issues that arise from the social dynamics of group interactions. This framing of CPS means that it is not a single construct that can be measured by using a particular type of CPS task (e.g. minimal complex system tests), which is a view taken by the psychometric community. The proposed approach taken here is that because CPS is multifaceted, multiple approaches need to be taken to fully capture and understand what it is and how the different cognitive processes associated with it complement each other.Thus, this Research Topic is aimed at showcasing the latest work in the fields of CPS, as well as DDM and CDC that takes a holist approach to investigating and theorizing about these abilities. The collection of articles encompasses conceptual approaches as well as experimental and correlational studies involving established or new tools to examine CPS, DDM and CDC. This work contributes to answering questions about what strategies and what general knowledge can be transferred from one type of complex and dynamic situation to another, what learning conditions result in transferable knowledge and skills, and how these features can be trained.

This book fills the need for a text that integrates Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into English for Specific Purposes (ESP). It offers insights on current methodological principles in ESP in both academic and professional contexts, drawing on authentic teaching and learning situations, and analyses best practice guidelines. Part I begins with ESP pedagogical principles and technological practice in order to focus on its two main branches: English for Academic Purposes, which includes linguistic skills and students’ needs, and English for Occupational Purposes, specifically looking at Business, Medical and Translators courses. This book is a great resource for ESP researchers, educators and students, because it provides case studies of how ICTs can be used in English for multiple purposes. Authors present their experiences of integrating tools into their instructions, with each chapter contributing unique pedagogical implications.

American Higher Education in the Twenty-first century offers a comprehensive introduction to the central issues facing American colleges and universities. The contributors address major changes in higher education--including the rise of organized social movements, the problem of income inequality and stratification, the growth of for-profit and distance education, online education, community colleges, and teaching and learning-- will placing American higher education and its complex social and political context. --Cover.