Appointment of Associate VP for Teaching and Assessment Research

February 20, 2007

Members of the Rutgers Community:

As I am sure you are aware, assessment and accountability have become pervasive issues in American higher education. At both federal and state levels, colleges and universities are being called upon to establish goals for their academic programs and to put in place mechanisms to determine how well these goals are met. The issues are now being taken into account in funding and accreditation, as well as other allocation processes and decisions that deeply affect us.

At Rutgers, we have many programs that carry out well-defined and productive assessments of their educational effectiveness. Many of these assessments take place as part of the accreditations and certifications of various schools and departments. Others are based on a culture of evaluation and regular self-improvement existing in a large number of our units. Many other programs have the components in place for assessment but have not formalized them.

Nevertheless, we have much more to do. To meet developing standards for accreditation, for example, we must have a far more cohesive, structured, and regularized institutional program of assessment. That program must have clearly defined expectations that can be applied across the university, with its array of disciplines and different modes of instruction, and recognizing our absolute commitment to academic freedom.

As one step in advancing this important agenda, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Gary A. Gigliotti, professor of economics and executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching, has been appointed as associate vice president for academic affairs-teaching and assessment research, effective January 1, 2007.

Dr. Gigliotti will report directly to Executive Vice President Philip Furmanski. The Center for Advancement of Teaching will be renamed the Center for Teaching Advancement and Assessment Research, to reflect its expanded mission, and Dr. Gigliotti will continue as its executive director.

In his new position, Dr. Gigliotti will be responsible for assessment initiatives across the university including assessment of undergraduate and graduate academic programs as well as cocurricular and student life activities. He will be inaugurating a series of programs to help our schools and departments address these issues in their own context.

I know you join me in congratulating Gary on this new appointment. Your cooperation in helping him accomplish this vital task is much appreciated.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey