Southern’s Assessment Academy Team recently completed their Final Project

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College’s Assessment Academy Team recently completed their Final Project during a two-day event at the Q Center in Chicago, Illinois. The culminating event, the Assessment Academy Results Forum, occurred October 16-17, 2024.

The Forum provided a platform for Southern’s delegation to engage in several key activities:

Overview and Event Highlights

Facilitators designed the Results Forum to help Academy teams develop strategies to sustain their assessment initiatives beyond the Academy. Teams explored best practices in assessment, shared their accomplishments, and reflected on lessons learned throughout the 4-year program.

Graduate Showcase Panel Sessions

On October 16, the graduating teams participated in the “Sharing Promising Practices” panel discussion. This moderated session allowed the teams to showcase their achievements and effective strategies developed throughout their projects. Southern’s team members attended different panels to gain diverse insights and learn from other cohort teams’ varied experiences and perspectives.

Reception and Poster Gallery

On the first day of the Midpoint Roundtable, they concluded with an informal reception and poster gallery, where Southern’s A-Train was a notable highlight. The team shared their project successes and lessons with incoming and current Academy teams, fostering connections and discussions around their journey.

SparQ and Pre-Work Assignment

Before the event, the team reviewed their Academy project in SparQ, HLC’s collaborative online platform that housed it from September 2020 through October 2024. Over the past four years, this platform has served as the feedback hub and report card system. Southern’s team was recognized for one of the best reports and ranked at the top of the Internationalization Chart among participating colleges. This achievement highlights the team’s hard work and dedication.

Team Recognition and Commendations

Bill Alderman, Accreditation Liaison Officer, Professor of Business, and Special Executive Projects, expressed immense pride in the team’s work ethic, stating that the program was one of the most fulfilling he had ever worked on. He praised the leadership of Regina Bias, Director of Accreditation and Assessment/Team Lead; Larry D’Angelo, Assistant Professor of English/Co-Team Lead; Nathan Freeman, Assistant Professor of English; Chris Ward, Director of Math and Sciences/Associate Professor of Math, and other team members contributed significantly over the years.

Dr. Susan Murphy, the 2022 Comprehensive Visit Team Chair and one of the Academy facilitators, also commended the team, stating, “They were stars! Regina shined brightly, and Bill Alderman is an exceptional ALO. Working with them all these past two years has been a pleasure. The team rallied from past challenges and rose to the top in their performance.”

President’s Remarks

Dr. Pamela Alderman, President of Southern, shared her pride in the Assessment Team and their representation in Chicago: “For many years, the concept of assessment eluded us, and the college struggled to grasp its significance. Enrolling in the Higher Learning Commission Assessment Academy equipped us with the skills to elevate our understanding. This group has worked tirelessly, and I am confident we are now excelling in assessment. I thank everyone involved, especially Bill Alderman, for his leadership. Our college, faculty, staff, and students have achieved yet another victory.”

Nate Freeman, Regina Bias, and Larry D’Angelo are pictured at the Academy Final Project and Graduation, where they received their certificates of completion.