1	Assessment The Keystone for Change at the University of Puerto Rico at Ponce (UPR-Ponce)
2	Assessment
3	Assessment
4	Assessment will contribute to: Better serve campus academic population.
5	Assessment will also contribute to: Improve and target overall Project's performance indicators. Identify status and phases of Project's Implementation Plan. Identify Project's steps-forward, drawbacks, or status quo Activities, or actions.
6	Assessment will also contribute to: Give directionality to floundering actions within Project's Activities. Make cost/service effective academic and Project Management decisions. Foresee possible changes or outlooks within Project’s objectives or towards Project's future development. Basically, assessment will push forward actions in favor of targeting Project's five (5) year long-range Institutionalization Plan.
7	Assessment is a pivotal tool for Project's evaluation … so there are many reasons to perform continuous internal Project's assessment, far beyond Project's Evaluation actions.
8	Evaluation Can be seen as a threat, As a crucial, unsympathetic action that can draw input or can be seen as: A measure of Project's non performed actions or non attained objectives. As a required funding bureaucracy, or furthermore, and less valuable, as a Project's external intromission or undermining for someone to become the scapegoat to be fired.
9	By all means, Assessment: Will crucially contribute to overcome negativism, and will soundly lead to see Evaluation as a clear, non-slashy or harsh action performed by an outsider. Will be considered as a non-suffered systematic approach, to find-out and address tailored made issues or actions before encountering Evaluation.
10	Assessment Will contribute to see Evaluation as a Project’s specific worksheet focused on analysis which will provide overall Project's status. Will open the door for solutions in favor of Project's credibility by enhancing day-to-day-on-going performance and survival actions.
11	Assessment Will help to update endeavors, pushing forward Project's progress. Will help staff to create or refocus actions by provoking the discussion of essential maneuverings in favor of targeting Project's outcomes.
12	Assessment is: The Route for change
13	"These are actions that as..." These are actions that as Project Directors we can't elude. They will arise by their own. Within Project's Implementation Plan, actions will require revisions, changes, adjustments, negotiations, new engagements of constituencies, and re-arrangements, if we want to achieve the proposed objectives and, above all, if we want to be accountable for Project’s institutionalization. Assessment, Planning, and Management will form a loop towards Projects’ Evaluation and accountability.
14	Assessment Is a feedback process. Will assure you sail in the direct course of action. Will help gather information for Project's Evaluation.
15	Evaluation Measures success. Demonstrates accountability and credibility underlying Project’s development. Defines goals and objectives status. Focuses the Project in terms of accountable rates within time frames.
16	For Project’s Institutionalization
17	Assessment is pivotal or keystone for success
18	Assessment Instruments Periodic Bulletins to Students and Faculty Monthly Reports to Chancellor or President Perception Questionnaires to Students and Faculty Interviews Finding Reports Analysis Project’s Staff Meetings Sharing Reports and Findings Comparative grading statistics
19	Assessment Instruments There is a wide variety and a diverse array of sources that can be used as assessment instruments.
20	"Silence" Silence! Plus non documenting actions, without assessing academic impact and proficiency, will not open the path towards Project’s success.
21	"As Project Director you want..." As Project Director you want to communicate and inform Project’s outcomes. Receive relevant feedback that typically foster results source- oriented- information, in order to discover trends and modes that contribute to strengthen or diminish procedures, in order to improve overall Project's performance methods.
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23	Implementation Plan
24	"If these assessment status worksheets..." If these assessment status worksheets or checklists are performed, for example, at the end of each academic semester, not only will you have a clear wide scope view of Project’s endeavors, but also information will be compiled for the Interim and the Annual Grant Performance Reports beforehand.
25	Assessment Is groundwork that assures you are sailing in the right direction towards Project’s outcomes.
26	Facts… … and Findings at UPR Ponce Title V Project
27	Facts… (among others…) All classrooms and labs within the Academic Building have been wired for Internet access and have monitors with videos as requested by Academic Departments.
28	Facts… (among others…) A Multi-Activity Teaching Center has been created with three Smart Classrooms, a Computerized Faculty Workstation, and an Interdisciplinary Computerized Center for students to access and to strengthen their Basic Skills Courses.
29	Facts… (among others…) A Smart Interactive Faculty Conference room has been created. 19 Smart Interactive Classrooms have been created throughout Campus for strengthening all academic programs.
30	Facts… (among others…) Continuous faculty training has been conducted in educational technology.
31	Facts… (among others…) BlackBoard educational platform has been acquired for courses web enhancement.
32	Facts… (among others…) A diverse array of computerized academic programming and software has been installed.
33	… and Findings Students comments on evaluation questionnaires: “I believe more of these classrooms should be built so that other students can benefit equally by them.” (Creo que se debieran construir más salones para dar la prioridad a otros estudiantes que los quisieran. Así todos nos beneficiaríamos por igual.)
34	… and Findings Students comments: “What I like best is the combination of technology that is being used. It's the best for improving learning.” (Lo más que me gusta es el intercambio o combinación con la tecnología que es lo mejor que existe para mejorar el aprendizaje, para enriquecerlo.) Title V Project is a total success. I hope that these actions continue for improving college students academic work. (El Proyecto Título V es un éxito total. Yo espero que estas acciones continúen para mejorar el trabajo académico de los estudiantes.)
35	"…if these are students..." …if these are students comments, how can these comments be paired with students academic performance?
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37	Findings… - Retention Rate has improved by 2%. - Failure Rate has lowered by 3%. Although %’s are not dramatically significant or outstanding, rates have changed, in favor of strengthening and improving students academic performance, throughout the enrichment of the learning and teaching strategies. Students were saved from withdrawing.
38	Basic Skills Courses Outcomes: English 3101-3102 Spanish 3101-3102 Math 3171-3172
39	"9" 9% of retention rate is observed in MATC courses, although there is a 3% higher in failure grades.
40	"This statement endorses the fact..." This statement endorses the fact that students see Title V MATC at UPR Ponce as a strengthening corollary in their expectancies for approval of their Basic Skill Courses. They rely or expect some type of “miracle” or academic support further more than the course itself towards attaining a course passing grade.
41	"This issue has seriously been..." This issue has seriously been discussed among Title V Project Staff, teaching and non-teaching personnel, in order to see what is students rationale behind this academic scenario.
42	"At UPR-Ponce Title V Project" At UPR-Ponce Title V Project, we have also documented, furthermore than by the analysis of passing grades, students outcomes and academic progress.
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44	"As a parallel action of..." As a parallel action of MATC, an Interdisciplinary Computerized Center (ICC) was created for student use and practice of drills, assignments, and searches.
45	Some facts of ICC:
46	Student Daily Attendance
47	"… and if we add" … and if we add, students comments such as: “Everything is in excellent conditions.” “It’s very motivating and I enjoy the environment.” “It’s a very fresh room, even more I Like the relationship established.”
48	Faculty Findings
49	Faculty Findings: 90% of Faculty members surveyed stated to know the Project and considered it Excellent or Good. 80% of Faculty stated they used Projects’ services and considered them as Excellent or Good. 86% of Faculty evaluated as Excellent or Good the training workshops sponsored by the Project.
50	Faculty Findings: 90% considered that the Project fostered their strengthening and enrichment of the technological oriented strategies in the learning/teaching processes. 92% expressed desirability that Title V Project continue enriching and strengthening their skills in the use of methodologies for the learning and teaching processes.
51	Faculty findings… teaching/learning collaboration
52	Faculty findings…about computerized equipment
53	Faculty findings… about Blackboard
54	MATC Students Survey Findings…
55	MATC Physical Facilities
56	Computerized Hardware for Faculty Use
57	Computerized Hardware for Students Use
58	Computerized Software used at MATC courses
59	Academic Benefits attained by the use of MATC
60	Available Technical Support
61	MATC has strengthened my basic skills in Math, Spanish and English
62	My experience at MATC has been positive
63	My courses at MATC was very motivated towards my learning experience
64	In conclusion, Assessment… …is the cornerstone for Institutionalization and change. Assessment has been the resource to overcome skepticism and reinforce Project’s credibility among Institution’s constituencies .
65	"This before and after Project’s" This before and after Project’s math has been the keystone for a revolutionary change in favor of UPR-Ponce Title V Project success, survival, and resilience.
66	"http://www.uprp.edu" http://www.uprp.edu rosario_rios@hotmail.com