Student Affairs Assessment: Theory to Practice is one of a handful of new publications directed specifically at student affairs practitioners and graduate students who seek to study assessment. As the title indicates, this is a comprehensive text that includes topics not always covered in similar texts, including the history of assessment in student affairs, the importance of epistemology or ways of knowing when it comes to thinking about assessment, the politics of assessment, and the uses of technology in practice. Henning and Roberts text would be ideal for course instruction as it covers theory to practice and could be taught in the order best suited for the class. Course instructors may choose to create assignments tethered to key points and discussion questions provided by the authors.
Teachers College Record
If my graduate program curriculum had included an assessment course, I would have liked for this new book from Henning and Roberts to be the text. And as I prepare to introduce a position dedicated to assessment and storytelling into my Student Affairs portfolio in the coming months, Ill certainly purchase this book as a resource for our staff. Accessible to assessment newcomers and useful for seasoned professionals, Student Affairs Assessment: Theory to Practice belongs in Student Affairs libraries everywhere.
John Austin, Executive Director, Student Affairs, Ryerson University
"Rigor in implementing assessment is emphasized throughout this volume. Rigor also characterizes the books contents, which are particularly thorough in explaining why and how to do assessment and how to use results to improve programs and services. The authors make unique contributions in chapters on epistemology, politics, closing the loop, and ethics."
Trudy W. Banta, Professor of Higher Education and Senior Advisor to the Chancellor
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
"This comprehensive primer on student affairs based assessment is a welcome and valuable contribution to the profession. This is the best kind of example of connecting theory and practice, all for the benefit of our students. In many ways student affairs has led the academy in implementing true assessment of student learning and this work enables higher education to make even stronger progress on this critically important work.
Mike Segawa, Dean of Students, University of Puget Sound
"Henning and Roberts bring their superb scholar-practitioner orientations to this informed, accessible, and comprehensive approach to assessment. Their experience shines with practical examples embedded in solid research methodologies. Built from now-classic documents in student affairs, both graduate students and those coming into student affairs work new to assessment will find this book foundation to their professional practice."
Susan R. Komives, professor emerita, Student Affairs Graduate Program, University of Maryland and past president of both ACPA and CAS
If tasked to spearhead assessment with little support, this single resource might be what saves you. Whether new to assessment or interested in bolstering your grasp of assessment, you will find that this isnt simply a textbook on assessment but rather a comprehensive review of the context, methods, and implications of assessment. Important chapters on the history and mechanics of assessment are balanced by often missing discussions of political realities and implications associated with assessment activities. This is a thorough handbook for everyone in student affairs.
Dean L. Bresciani, President
North Dakota State University and Professor of Human Development and Education
