Program Assessment Awards Initiative and Goals

The Assessment Awards Initiative at Texas A&M University seeks to recognize and celebrate programs who demonstrate excellence in academic assessment practices. Through strategic recognition, the initiative fosters a culture of reflective, data-informed decision-making that drives continuous improvement in program learning outcomes. By elevating the visibility and value of assessment, the initiative encourages deeper engagement across academic units. The Assessment Awards aim to normalize and elevate assessment as a valued academic practice, encouraging consistency, transparency, and innovation through recognition and rewards to support continuous improvement at Texas A&M University.

The goals of this initiative are to: 

1. To recognize and celebrate programs that demonstrate excellence in assessment practices.
2. To elevate the visibility and value of assessment, and to encourage deeper engagement in the process.

Inaugural Cycle 

Beginning in the 24-25 assessment cycle. Winners will be notified February 2026.

Award Information 

For the inaugural award cycle, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Evaluation will be introducing two awards: the Comprehensive Excellence in Assessment Award and the Continuous Improvement Award. Specific award descriptions and criteria are below. 

Comprehensive Excellence in Assessment Award

This award recognizes programs that embody a spirit of excellence in assessment by engaging in intentional, reflective, and collaborative practices. Honorees demonstrate that assessment is not simply a reporting exercise but a meaningful process that informs decisions, fosters innovation, and continuously advances understanding of student learning. 

Award decisions are based entirely on what is documented in the submitted reports. Programs are expected to convey their practices clearly through narrative and supporting evidence.

Award Criteria: 

1. Cohesion and Alignment: The assessment report tells a clear and consistent story, with outcomes, measures, findings, and actions aligned in a way that demonstrates intentional design and purpose. 
2. Curiosity and Robust Assessment Design: The program approaches assessment with curiosity and adaptability, embracing new strategies and approaches to strengthen assessment practice. This may include rotating outcomes, piloting new tools, revising rubrics, or adjusting data collection to gain deeper insight. Robust methods — including varied approaches and multi-dimensional measures — support a rich and reflective understanding of student learning. 
3. Reflective Use of Results: The program demonstrates a culture of assessment where findings are used to guide meaningful actions, reflection on past efforts is evident, and the commitment to continuous improvement is woven throughout the narrative. 
4. Collaboration and Shared Commitment: The assessment report reflects a shared responsibility, with members of the program contributing to interpreting evidence, identifying improvements, and implementing actions. The collaborative approach underscores a collective commitment to improvement rather than the work of a single individual.

Continuous Improvement Award 

This award recognizes programs where faculty take collective ownership of assessment and work together to design intentional, creative actions that support student learning. Honorees demonstrate that meaningful improvement is grounded in shared commitment, thoughtful planning, and sustained follow-through. Creative or transformative efforts are those that reflect fresh thinking, adaptive responses to findings, or shifts in practice that lead to more effective teaching and learning. The emphasis is on purposeful change developed through collaborative reflection. 

Award decisions are based entirely on what is documented in the submitted reports. Programs are expected to convey their practices clearly through narrative and supporting evidence. 

Award Criteria: 

1. Faculty as Change Agents: Faculty engagement is evident in shaping the direction, purpose, and execution of data-informed action(s). The report reflects a culture of shared ownership and collaborative responsibility for student learning and improvement. 
2. Inventive or Transformative Approach: The proposed action reflects creative or experimental thinking and demonstrates a meaningful shift in practice—whether through instructional design, curriculum, or student engagement strategies. The scope and scale of the action reflect intentionality and support meaningful, lasting improvements in student learning. Even if modest in scope, the action is thoughtfully aligned with findings and designed for impact. 
3. Coherence and Readiness of Action: The action is rooted in clear intention, with thoughtful planning that connects rationale to implementation. Steps, roles, and timing are articulated in a way that demonstrates careful planning for coordinated execution. 
4. Reflective Momentum and Outcome Reengagement: The program demonstrates thoughtful follow-through by sharing updates, insights, or adaptations stemming from previous actions. Reflection is used to evaluate progress and revisit the original learning outcome, showing that the improvement process is ongoing and evidence-informed. 

Award Winner Recognition

Winners of these awards will receive: 

A framed award certificate;

Letters of Recognition sent to the program's Department Head and Dean;

A website spotlight