Advancing Assessment for Student Success - Practical Campus Guide

In this review of Advancing Assessment for Student Success, reviewers recommend the book for faculty, assessment directors, and student affairs professionals who want a practical, collaborative approach to improving learning. The single biggest reason to buy is its focus on connecting teaching, curriculum, the co-curriculum, and assessment in ways that invite colleagues and students into the process. Written in a conversational tone, the book emphasizes reflection and useful examples rather than abstract theory, making it immediately applicable to campus practice.

Key Features

• Collaborative focus: Encourages cross-campus reflection with colleagues and students to surface practical insights for improved learning outcomes.
• Integrated perspective: Connects teaching, curriculum, co-curriculum, and assessment so readers can design aligned strategies across units.
• Practical illustrations: Includes a wide variety of peer examples that show how institutions put assessment into practice in meaningful ways.
• Conversational style: Uses accessible language that makes guidance easier to adopt in workshops and department discussions.
• Actionable guidance: Provides specific activities and approaches that teams can adapt for local contexts to support student success.

Who It's For

This book works best for higher education professionals who are actively involved in curricular design, assessment planning, or student success initiatives - including faculty, assessment directors, and student affairs staff seeking collaborative, applied strategies. It is especially useful for teams that want examples they can adapt rather than a solely theoretical treatment.

Readers looking for a fast-read reference for assessment activities will find value, while those seeking a deep methodological or statistical treatment of assessment techniques should look elsewhere; this volume emphasizes practical, programmatic connections and reflection over technical measurement detail.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Strong emphasis on collaboration makes it easier to engage colleagues and students in assessment work.
• Concrete campus illustrations help translate concepts into implementable practices.
• Conversational tone lowers the barrier to discussion across units and disciplines.

Cons

• Not a technical manual; readers wanting advanced psychometric or statistical guidance will need supplemental sources.

Specifications

Title	Advancing Assessment for Student Success
Primary focus	Connecting assessment, teaching, curriculum, and co-curriculum
Authors	Amy Driscoll, Swarup Wood, Dan Shapiro, Nelson Graff
Style	Conversational with practical illustrations
Intended readers	Faculty, assessment directors, student affairs professionals, staff
Purpose	Support and improve student learning and success

Our Verdict

Advancing Assessment for Student Success is a valuable, practical resource for campus teams that want to align teaching, curriculum, co-curricular efforts, and assessment through collaborative reflection. Its strength lies in approachable guidance and peer examples that make implementation realistic; it represents good value for practitioners seeking change-oriented, adaptable strategies rather than technical measurement depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book include practical examples?
Yes. The authors present a wide variety of campus illustrations that show how peers apply assessment in meaningful ways.

Who contributed to the book?
The book is written by Amy Driscoll, Swarup Wood, Dan Shapiro, and Nelson Graff, bringing practitioner perspectives.

Is this a technical assessment manual?
No. The book emphasizes collaborative, programmatic approaches and activities rather than advanced psychometric methods.