October 28, 2024

WU Faculty Attend HLC Assessment Academy Midpoint Roundtable

WHEELING, W.Va., October 28 – Four Wheeling University faculty members travelled to the Chicago area to attend the Higher Learning Commission’s Assessment Academy Midpoint Roundtable October 16-17.

“We were blessed to represent Wheeling University at this roundtable,” said Dr. Joseph Slick, assistant professor of English and team leader of Wheeling’s Assessment Task Force. “The Assessment Academy is a great opportunity to look back on our assessment strategies and efforts, to take stock of data collection and student learning and to identify goals for the next two years.”

Wheeling University just completed the second year of an assessment program to conclude in October of 2026. It is designed to maximize the assessment practices and to help grow student learning. This focus on growth ties into Wheeling University’s mission of preparing students to be future leaders.  

The Assessment Roundtable was an opportunity to share progress, seek advice from other participants and receive in-person guidance on assessment. 

Also attending was Associate Professor of English, Dr. Paula Makris, who is chair of Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as chair of the Assessment Committee. Through her work as a reader for the College Board Advanced Placement Program, Makris’ experience with rubric norming and inter-rater reliability has helped Wheeling’s team with strategizing and developing actionable goals.

She also credits her years as a member of the Assessment Committee with preparing her to contribute to the team’s project. “Because I am also chair of the Assessment Committee, I am able to align the practices and goals of the committee with those of the Assessment Academy team, which helps us to streamline our processes and avoid redundancies,” Makris explained.

Also attending the HLC Assessment Academy was William ‘Butch’ Maxwell, an instructor and lead of the Communications program. As a veteran of the Wheeling-area broadcasting industry, Maxwell brings real-world experience that elevates his academic courses. 

“I have transformed the way I view assessment,” he remarked. “I once viewed assessment as an unpleasant task of no real value to an instructor, but I now see assessment as a way to enhance student learning outcomes. Our task force will try to communicate to the faculty that assessment is a hands-on experience that can benefit students and faculty alike.”

Rounding out the task force attendees was Assistant Professor of Biology, Heather Kiblinger. “I brought fresh eyes to the assessment process,” she noted. “As such, I provide perspective and curiosity that can surmount potential roadblocks in building effective assessment practices. In this way, I can ensure that our students will have every opportunity to be their best.”

All four members were grateful for the experience of belonging to a community of assessment. During the two days of discussions in Chicago, the University’s taskforce was given feedback on Wheeling’s assessment plans for the next two years, as well as learning about other groups’ two-year plans.

“We look forward to telling these assessment stories to our colleagues intending for them to engage as storytellers in this assessment story,” said Slick. “Just as we overcame the past challenges, together we can build a successful assessment culture for the University.”

PHOTO Caption: Working at the Higher Learning Commission’s Assessment Academy Midpoint Roundtable are, from left Dr. Paula Makris, Butch Maxwell, Dr. Joseph Slick and Heather Kiblinger.