Assessment & Strategic Planning Curriculum Overview

Since 2016, the Assessment and Strategic Planning office has been committed to providing comprehensive training sessions for Auburn Student Affairs staff and graduate students. Now, in 2025, we are pleased to introduce our updated curriculum, designed to meet the evolving needs of scholar-practitioners and foster a culture of data-informed decision-making.

Our new curriculum is thoughtfully designed based on valuable feedback from staff, ensuring it addresses essential assessment skills and enhances our ability to tell our story and communicate impact effectively. This updated curriculum aligns with the ACPA/NASPA Professional Competency Rubric for Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, ensuring that our training is both relevant and rigorous.

By completing all ten modules, student affairs staff will earn a digital badge in Student Affairs Assessment, symbolizing their commitment to continuous quality improvement and excellence in assessment practices.

A Message from the Director

As the Director of Assessment and Strategic Planning, I am proud to present this revamped curriculum. Your participation reflects our shared commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. Together, we can elevate our assessment capabilities and achieve great things for Auburn University.

Vanessa Harrison, Director of Assessment and Strategic Planning

Benefits for Participants

  • Enhanced Skills: Gain essential assessment skills that are critical for professional growth and assessment best practices.
  • Recognition: Earn a digital badge in Student Affairs Assessment, showcasing your expertise.
  • Impactful Storytelling: Learn how to effectively communicate the impact of your work.
  • Accreditation Support: Contribute to achieving accreditation through solid assessment practices and continuous improvement.

We invite you to join us on this journey to elevate our assessment capabilities and achieve accreditation as a natural byproduct of solid assessment practices. Together, we can make a significant impact on the student experience at Auburn University.

Curriculum Modules

  • Assessment 101
  • Designing an Assessment Project
  • Outcome Writing
  • Survey Design
  • Qualtrics 101
  • Focus Groups & Interviews
  • Data Security, Ethics, & IRB
  • Data-informed Decision Making
  • Interpreting Results & Sharing Findings
  • Power BI 101 for Data Visualization

Registration

To register for the Summer 2025, Fall 2025, or Spring 2026 chohort, please email saasp@auburn.edu.