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Executive Education Certificates

About the Executive Education Certificate in Assessment in Higher Education

This is a virtual synchronous, non-credit-bearing certificate in Assessment in Higher Education. Effectively assessing outcomes and program effectiveness is a critical skill in higher education today, and the Assessment Certificate is a convenient, cost-efficient, and expeditious way to build, expand or update assessment knowledge and skills.

The curriculum provides current higher education professionals with knowledge, skills, and coaching support to facilitate assessment in the workplace.

Participants are introduced to the steps in the assessment cycle, including:

  • Project planning
  • Writing outcomes and objectives
  • Gathering evidence
  • Interpreting data
  • Writing results and taking action

Next Steps

Join us for an interactive and engaging information session, or register for the the Executive Education certificate.

Veronica Womack smiles at the camera.

“I wanted to be able to confidently distinguish between assessment and research as well as supervise individuals who manage and assess teacher development programs. Upon attaining the certificate and presenting my assessment proposal, I have worked with my team to launch a qualitative program assessment plan during the upcoming academic year.”

— Veronica Womack, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Inclusive Teaching, Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching
Recipient of the Assessment in Higher Education Certificate

Winter-Spring 2025 Session Schedule and Curriculum

Session 1: Friday, January 24, 2025—Introduction to Assessment (2.5 hours)

Session 1 will include an overview of the program curriculum and expectations, a discussion of why we assess and considerations, such as politics and organizational culture, that can influence assessment efforts.

Session 2: Friday, February 7, 2025—Developing a Project Plan (2.5 hours)

During Session 2 participants will dive into project planning, discussing important steps and considerations when developing a quality assessment project. Participants will also begin to build their assessment project plan.

Session 3: Friday, February 21, 2025—Writing Learning Outcomes and Objectives (2.5 hours)

Session 3 will address the importance of choosing relevant outcomes and objectives, how to write measurable and meaningful outcomes and objectives, and how to write good prompts.

Session 4: Friday, March 7, 2025—Data Equity/ Overview of Data Collection Methods (2.5 hours)

Session 4 will provide an overview of principles and practices related to data equity as it relates to data projects, especially projects related to people. Also included will be an introduction to assessment methods.

March 10-21, 2025—1-on-1 Coaching (1 hour)

The first round of one-hour coaching sessions will be scheduled with assigned coaches. During the session, participants will discuss culminating project proposals, draft outcomes, and other assessment-related questions.

Session 5: Friday, April 11, 2025—Quantitative Methods and Analysis (2.5 hours)

Session 5 will discuss considerations for when to collect quantitative data, diverse types of data, steps to collecting data and an overview of how to analyze quantitative data.

Session 6: Friday, April 25, 2025—Qualitative Methods and Analysis (2.5 hours)

Like Session 5, Session 6 will discuss considerations for when to collect qualitative data, diverse types of data, steps to collecting data and an overview of how to analyze qualitative data.

April 28-May 2, 2025—1-on-1 Coaching (1 hour)

The second round of one-hour coaching sessions will be scheduled with assigned coaches. During the session, participants will discuss project data methods, final steps for project implementation, and Culminating Project presentation expectations.

Session 7: Friday, May 2, 2025—Communicating and Visualizing Data Results (2.5 hours)

Session 7 will focus on several ways to communicate assessment results with different stakeholders and audiences. Data visualization is key to effective communication and considerations and examples will be shared to assist in decision-making.

Session 8: Friday, May 16, 2025—Culminating Project Presentations (3 hours)

Culminating Projects provide participants the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned and how they have applied learning through development of the project plan. Each participant will present a 10 minute Culminating Project, followed by 5 minutes of Q & A.

Participants who complete the Higher Education Assessment certificate will receive a certificate from the Higher Education Administration and Policy Program at Northwestern University.

Summer 2025 Session Schedule and Curriculum

Session 1: Wednesday, June 18, 2025—Introduction to Assessment (2.5 hours)

Session 1 will include an overview of the program curriculum and expectations, a discussion of why we assess and considerations, such as politics and organizational culture, that can influence assessment efforts.

Session 2: Wednesday, June 25, 2025—Developing a Project Plan (2.5 hours)

During Session 2 participants will dive into project planning, discussing important steps and considerations when developing a quality assessment project. Participants will also begin to build their assessment project plan.

Session 3: Wednesday, July 2, 2025—Writing Learning Outcomes and Objectives (2.5 hours)

Session 3 will address the importance of choosing relevant outcomes and objectives, how to write measurable and meaningful outcomes and objectives, and how to write good prompts.

“Session 4: Wednesday, July 9, 2025—Data Equity/Overview of Data Collection Methods (2.5 hours)

Session 4 will provide an overview of principles and practices related to data equity as it relates to data projects, especially projects related to people. Also included will be an introduction to assessment methods.

July 10-15, 2025—1-on-1 Coaching (1 hour)

The first round of one-hour coaching sessions will be scheduled with assigned coaches. During the session, participants will discuss culminating project proposals, draft outcomes, and other assessment-related questions.

Session 5: Wednesday, July 16, 2025—Qualitative Methods and Analysis (2.5 hours)

Session 5 will discuss considerations for when to collect qualitative data, diverse types of data, steps to collecting data and an overview of how to analyze qualitative data.

Session 6: Wednesday, July 23, 2025—Quantitative Methods and Analysis (2.5 hours)

Like Session 5, Session 6 will discuss considerations for when to collect quantitative data, diverse types of data, steps to collecting data and an overview of how to analyze quantitative data.

July 24-29, 2025—1-on-1 Coaching (1 hour)

The second round of one-hour coaching sessions will be scheduled with assigned coaches. During the session, participants will discuss project data methods, final steps for project implementation, and Culminating Project presentation expectations.

Session 7: Wednesday, July 30, 2025—Communicating and Visualizing Data Results (2.5 hours)

Session 7 will focus on several ways to communicate assessment results with different stakeholders and audiences. Data visualization is key to effective communication and considerations and examples will be shared to assist in decision-making.

Session 8: Wednesday, August 6, 2025—Culminating Project Presentations (3 hours)

Culminating Projects provide participants the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned and how they have applied learning through development of the project plan. Each participant will present a 10 minute Culminating Project, followed by 5 minutes of Q & A.

Participants who complete the Higher Education Assessment certificate will receive a certificate from the Higher Education Administration and Policy Program at Northwestern University.

Target Audiences

  • Mid-level or Senior higher education professionals who have an advanced degree and seek expanded knowledge and skills in assessment, look to increase their capacity to assess programs, or wish to improve their professional abilities.
  • Entry-level higher education professionals who want to build capacity in conducting assessments to better understand program effectiveness and student learning.
  • Cohorts of professionals from the same institution who seek expert training in assessment to support assessment efforts, projects, or proposals on their own campus is encouraged. If interested, we give discounts to organizations that send three or more employees. Please contact us to discuss details.

Instructors and Speakers

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Ellen Meents-DeCaigny

Executive Education Lead and Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy, Northwestern University
About Ellen

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Lois Trautvetter

Professor and Program Director, Higher Education Administration and Policy, Northwestern University
About Lois

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Lisa Metzger-Mugg

Vice President, Program & Operations, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award USA
About Lisa

 

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Amit Prachand

Associate Vice President, Information and Analytics, Northwestern University
About Amit

 

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Rob Aaron

  • Executive Director, Student Affairs Assessment and Planning, Northwestern University
    About Rob

Have the Information You Need?

Contact Higher Education Administration and Policy

Our staff is available to provide in-person assistance Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Remote office hours are Friday 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 

Phone Number 
847-491-7526

Email 
ms-highered@northwestern.edu

Physical Address 
1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 7-300 
Evanston, IL 60208 
Northwestern University