EvaluateUR

Students participants will use EvaluteUR to learn about their academic strengths and areas needing improvement. EvaluateUR, developed at SUNY-Buffalo State, is a unique, evidence-based methodology for measuring student learning and related outcomes resulting from participation in an experiential learning such as undergraduate research. EvaluateUR builds upon the findings of the many valuable studies and goes beyond obtaining feedback largely based on student perceptions of the value of their research experience to measure specific student knowledge and skill outcomes. This is accomplished by employing a set of custom-built online tools that automatically collect data from the student researchers and their mentors throughout the summer research. By participating in EvaluateUR, fellow students will gain insights into their academic strengths and weaknesses and a new appreciation of the broad range of academic and personal skills they will need for successful employment in the technical workplace.

More specifically, by participating in the EvaluateUR students:

• Are introduced to a comprehensive list of competencies and skills that include but go beyond subject area knowledge they will need to continue their education at the baccalaureate/graduate levels and/or succeed in the workplace.
• Are provided regular feedback about their progress through repeated assessments and follow-up conversations with mentors.
• Obtain a realistic picture of their strengths and weaknesses across all competencies and skills they should strive to achieve.
• Develop and/or enhance their metacognitive skills.
• Gain greater self-awareness and confidence as they track their academic growth.
• Strengthen their applications to baccalaureate programs and/or resumes for entering the workplace.

With funding from the NSF, EvaluateUR has been disseminated nationally and has been used by over fifty primarily four-year institutions nationwide. We are delighted to be one of only few community colleges nationwide and the first in California to implement EvaluateUR into our project.