For Immediate Release October 18, 2005

For More Information Contact: Ric Burrous, 317-274-7711 rburrous@iupui.edu

IUPUI Hosting Assessment Leaders

INDIANAPOLIS - World leaders in assessment practices for higher education will call IUPUI "home" for three days next week (Oct. 23-25) as part of the 2005 Assessment Institute at the University Place Conference Center and Hotel.

Among the featured participants in the international gathering, expected to attract more than 800 experts in the field, is IUPUI's Trudy W. Banta, vice chancellor for planning and institutional improvement. The campus also will have a host of others taking part in the workshops, panel discussions, plenary sessions and other meetings to discuss the best assessment methods and techniques.

"This is now the largest and longest-running higher education assessment conference in the U.S.," Banta said of the annual event. "I am so pleased that the lovely new hotel lobbies will be available for our special events. Last year the hotel could seat just 650 for lunch; the new capacity is 850, and we will fill that. The interest in outcomes assessment around the globe just continues to grow."

IUPUI teams and individuals will lead or co-lead four workshops during Sunday's opening day activities, then four more on Monday and two on Tuesday's final day. Other participants contribute an international flavor, with presenters from such distant locales as the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada and New Zealand.

The IUPUI School of Engineering and Technology has organized a program track for faculty in engineering and engineering technology fields. Other specialized tracks for participants include accreditation, general education, assessment methods, community colleges, student affairs, and all majors.

In addition to the many workshops offered, the Assessment Institute will feature a "Best Practices Fair" both Monday and Tuesday, plus sessions with national assessment leaders.

Karen Black, the assistant to the vice chancellor for planning and institutional improvement, said the event is more than a "meeting of the minds" of assessment practitioners around the world: it's also a "learning experience" for students.

"We provide volunteer opportunities for a few graduate students who we hope find this a valuable learning experience," said Black. "These local student volunteers provide us with much-needed assistance!"

IUPUI has hosted the Assessment Institute every year since 1992. For more details about this year's event, visit www.planning.iupui.edu.

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