Taking Stock During National Assessment Week

April 6–10 marks National Assessment Week, a time when institutions across the country pause to reflect on the progress they have made and consider the broader impact of their work on student learning. As the academic year continues, it is a natural moment to ask: What is beginning to emerge? What is working well? And where does focused attention remain warranted while there is still time to act?

National Assessment Week is also an opportunity to recognize the people who sustain this work. Assessment is not simply a reporting obligation — it is the practice of using evidence to inform decisions, strengthen programs, and remain aligned with institutional mission. This week offers a meaningful occasion to step back, take stock, and approach the remainder of the term with greater intentionality.

To support that reflection, we are offering a daily question and a single action step for each day of the week.

MONDAY, APRIL 6:

Reconnect to Purpose

Question for Reflection

In what ways does your assessment work remain connected to meaningful improvement in student learning?

Action Step

Identify one student learning outcome and articulate, in writing, what demonstrated mastery of that outcome looks like in practice.

TUESDAY, APRIL 7

Examine Alignment

Question for Reflection

To what extent do your current assessments provide students a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate the outcomes your program has prioritized?

Action Step

Select one course or program area and review whether stated outcomes, instructional activities, and assessment methods are substantively aligned.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8

Attend to Early Evidence

Question for Reflection

What patterns are beginning to emerge from the data you have collected so far, even where that evidence remains partial or preliminary?

Action Step

Review one available data source and document one area of demonstrated strength and one area warranting closer attention before the term concludes.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9

Act While There Is Still Time

Question for Reflection

What evidence-informed adjustments remain within reach before the close of the current term?

Action Step

Identify one targeted, manageable improvement and establish a clear plan for implementing it before the term ends.

FRIDAY, APRIL 10

Invest in Sustainability

Question for Reflection

What structures, processes, or shared agreements would make your assessment practice more consistent and less burdensome in future cycles?

Action Step

Document one practice or structural change you intend to carry forward, and identify who needs to be part of that conversation.