“I don’t want us to just collect information just for the sake of having information.”
Bryan Carrier, vice president for student life and dean of students, implemented Assessment Day at Union University for the first time on September 11, 2018. Unlike most universities, Union now combines several different surveys over on-campus resources for students to fill out one day each semester when students get a day out of class.
“As an academic institution, I think it’s important that we’re students of our students, that we don’t just expect them to learn but we’re learning from them,” Carrier said. “And specifically learning from them what we’re doing, whether or not that’s effective and how to make it more effective.”
But is this just a clever way to convince students to provide data for the sake of having it, or does Union truly care about the critiques students make?
I set up an interview with Bryan Carrier and got a chance to sit down and have a chat with him. Since Assessment Day was his implementation into Union’s schedule, I wanted to hear why that day officially became part of each semester, and what the motivation was behind it.
As we sat down to chat in his calming, sage green office at a dark wood table, I was captivated by his friendly conversation and his mannerisms. He asked personal questions, engaged in conversation and did not rush through the interview. I believe he truly cares about his students, and in that moment, he cared about the interview and sharing his reasoning behind Assessment Day.
Throughout his sixteen years serving at Union University, he collected different amounts of valuable data. Originally, only a limited number of students answered surveys that offered Union needed data for improvement on campus, but without reliable numbers, it was difficult to improve the college experience.
According to Carrier, the response rate on the surveys shifted from eleven to forty percent, to the lowest now being above ninety percent once Assessment Day was instated. Carrier shared not only how Union had encouraged more students to fill out valuable information, but how that information was used. Yes, some of that information is used outside of Union’s campus, but for the most part, Carrier and Union University utilize this data to improve the college learning experience in both the classroom and outside it.
Carrier was extremely straight-forward and informative, sharing how Assessment Day has become a staple at Union. Students are allowed to have the day off once they have filled out several surveys with pertinent information for Union University, including discipleship experiences and AI, both subjects relevant to college students learning to live independently and develop an identity outside of family.
One essential feature of Assessment Day is the Donut Truck parked outside Union’s dining hall as they hand out fresh, piping hot bundles of joy. Who wouldn’t be excited for a day dedicated to steaming donuts, freedom from class with no consequences and a chance to give honest feedback to Union that will be acknowledged and acted upon?
Union University is one of the only colleges that regularly schedules Assessments Days, and, according to Carrier, this is considered unusual. However, over ninety percent of students now present Union with valuable data. So… Assessment Day really is a success featuring a day out of class, fresh donuts and improved resources for students at Union University.
