What Should Be in An Assessment Professional’s Toolkit? Perceptions of Need from the Field

Abstract

What professional development do assessment professionals need for to succeed in higher education? To meet the rising demands in the field, assessment professionals seek ways to improve their skillsets. The current study utilized survey responses from over 200 higher education assessment professionals across the United States to assess the amount of training assessment professionals had when starting their position, the professional development they have sought since being in the position, and what training is still needed in the field. A thematic analysis of three open-ended survey questions revealed the eclectic backgrounds of assessment professionals, their preferred trainings while in the role, and the content and modalities requested for future professional development.