Creating a Culture of Faculty Participation in Assessment: Factors that Promote and Impede Satisfaction

Abstract

Given the importance of assessment in higher education, it is critical to understand how to promote faculty engagement in assessment initiatives in institutions of higher education. This qualitative study identified factors that are associated with positive faculty satisfaction with assessment endeavors and those factors that reduce faculty satisfaction with these activities. Data revealed that faculty satisfaction varied across academic programs. Factors that promoted assessment included assessment methodologies, resources, support, participation, and effective leadership. Factors that reduced faculty satisfaction included the lack of comparative data across institutions, increased workload, and the continuous change in assessment plans.