VSA Regional Workshops

The Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA) will conduct three regional workshops this summer focusing on how to use the test results from the CAAP, CLA, or ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP), to inform institutional decision-making and improve learning outcomes. The workshops will be held:

June 8-9 in Baltimore, MD
July 8-9 in St. Louis, MO
August 23-24 in Sacramento, CA

Guest speakers include Charles Blaich, director of inquiries for the Wabash National Study and Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa, principal investigators for the Social Science Research Council-CLA Longitudinal Project. University leaders will share their experiences using learning outcomes data on their own campuses and representatives from ACT, ETS, and CLA will participate.

Institutional researchers as well as faculty and staff involved in assessment, teaching/learning evaluation, and student development are encouraged to attend.  Funding for the regional workshops is available through a grant from Lumina Foundation for Education. Workshop registration and additional information can be found on the VSA Web site.

Registration is free for representatives from VSA participating institutions. Individuals from non-VSA institutions are also welcome to attend for a registration fee of $300 per person. More than 200 individuals from 120 institutions participated in last year's workshops that focused on effective practices for test administration.

The VSA is a voluntary initiative developed by the higher education community to meet the following objectives:

  • Provide a useful tool for students during the college search process
  • Assemble and disseminate information that is transparent, comparable, and understandable
  • Demonstrate institutional accountability and stewardship to the public
  • Support institutions in the measurement of educational outcomes and facilitate the identification and implementation of effective practices as part of institutional improvement efforts.

Sponsoring associations − the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities − collectively represent over 520 public institutions that enroll 7.5 million students and award 70 percent of bachelor's degrees in the U.S. each year.

Christine Keller
VSA Executive Director
ckeller@aplu.org