The emergence and maturation of student affairs assessment

Abstract

AbstractIn this article, we will discuss the historical roots of student affairs assessment. The first part of this article will review the emergence of assessment in higher education including student affairs assessment and will follow with a discussion of the evolution of the field including growth and changes in positions over time. Next, the role of professional associations in developing the field, including the creation of standards for professional practice and individual competencies will be addressed. We include a section on the history of the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) and the role the organization played in program evaluation becoming an integral part of student affairs assessment. Lastly, we briefly discuss professional development opportunities and the growth of scholarship in the field.