Associate Professor (Clinical) of Pharmacy Practice Justine Gortney, Education Specialist Minakshi Lahiri and Academic Services Officer III Heather Sandlin all presented at the IUPUI Assessment Institute in Indianapolis on Monday, Oct. 22.

The Assessment Institute in Indianapolis is the nation's oldest and largest event focused exclusively on outcomes assessment in higher education. About 1,000 educators from every state and several countries took part in the 2018 institute.

The institute is designed to introduce participants to innovations in assessment. Plenary events are presented by national assessment leaders, while concurrent sessions provide a more in-depth perspective on specific topics, and a poster session details instruments and techniques.

Gortney and Lahiri presented "Assessing Perspectives of PharmD Students' Learning Experience of a Renewed Curriculum Implementation Longitudinally Using Student Focus Groups."
Abstract: Non-directive moderator-style exploratory focus group was used after each semester of P1 and P2
years to assess Pharmacy students' learning experience with newly-implemented curriculum. This
qualitative assessment was a component of a program improvement initiative and was supplemented
by student-scores on exams and course-review by a Curriculum Committee. Purposive sampling was
done to recruit participants. Pre-designed semester specific question prompts were used. Focus
groups were facilitated by non-faculty to eliminate bias. Sessions were audio recorded; additional
feedback from participants and facilitators notes were collected. Data were coded, analyzed and
triangulated using Miles & Huberman's model. Findings, results and implications will be shared with
the audience.

Sandlin and others from Wayne State presented "Taking the Pain Out of A**essment."
Abstract: Many colleagues think assessment is a pain, so our institutional assessment committee developed an innovative week of events designed to reach student, faculty, staff, administrative, and community audiences. Events included cookie decorating as a metaphor for assessment, an assessment trivia showdown, a courtroom assessment dramedy, a provost-led town hall on assessment, a workshop on assessing student learning, and a luncheon to recognize outstanding contributors to program assessment. The impact of the week's events were assessed through an online poll and participation data. Attendees will gain first-hand experience with the activities and discuss their application at their own institutions.

Gortney, Lahiri and others from Wayne State presented "Drugs and Docs: A Tale of Two Professional Programs' Assessment of Students' Personal and Professional Development."
Abstract: An increasing emphasis is being made on the assessment of personal and professional skills,
attributes, and attitudes in the health professions in order to better prepare the future workforce.
Given student numbers and limited faculty resources, competency-based assessment of these skills
are challenging to implement. Session attendees will be presented with models utilized from 2
programs (Pharmacy, Medicine). Both programs assess progression of students toward
competencies of self-awareness, professionalism, leadership, and engagement. Approaches include
faculty-driven and student self-assessment of attributes based on observed behaviors and
constructed assignments within (1) a student advising program and (2) problem-based learning and
clinical environments.