About
Welcome to the Office of Academic Assessment and Program Review (OAAPR) at California State University, Northridge. Our mission is to support continuous improvement in student learning by providing leadership and guidance on academic assessment practices across all programs and colleges. We work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators to ensure that learning outcomes are aligned with institutional goals and that data-driven decisions are made to enhance the educational experience for all students.
What We Do
The Office of Academic Assessment and Program Review is dedicated to the following key activities:
We oversee the assessment of Institutional Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs), Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs), and General Education Student Learning Outcomes (GESLOs). Our office ensures that all programs engage in meaningful assessment using a shared responsibility model called iROCA (Instructors Reporting on Classroom Assessment), collecting data to inform improvements in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
We work closely with College Assessment Leads, who liaise between OAAPR and their respective colleges. CALs help facilitate the assessment process, ensuring that each college's programs align with the university’s learning outcomes and assessment goals.
We provide resources and guidance to departments undergoing program review, helping them reflect on program effectiveness and make informed changes. This process ensures alignment with accreditation standards and institutional goals.
Our office plays a crucial role in collecting and analyzing data from program assessments to provide actionable insights into student performance and identify areas for improvement. Collaborating with Institutional Research, we utilize Tableau to present these assessment results through our public-facing dashboards-- CSUN LOADS, ensuring transparency and accessibility. In addition, we oversee the submission of Annual Continuous Improvement Reports (ACIRPs) and other key documents that support effective program review and informed decision-making across the university.
Each year, the OAAPR sponsors National Assessment Week, a week of virtual events designed to raise awareness of the importance of assessment in higher education. Through workshops, presentations, and discussions designed by regional representatives, we highlight best practices, promote collaborations, and celebrate the progress in enhancing assessment-related activities. This event is a valuable opportunity for faculty and staff to deepen their understanding of assessment and contribute to the university’s continuous improvement efforts.
We provide the DEI-RAM, a free dashboard to help colleges and universities track and monitor key engager perceptions of their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. This tool aids institutions in assessing their readiness and effectiveness in fostering an inclusive campus environment and offers valuable data to guide strategic improvements in DEI initiatives.
Meet Our Team
Sakilé K. Camara
Director of Academic Assessment and Program Review
Jennifer Little
Associate Director
College Assessment Leads (CALs)
The Office of Academic Assessment and Program Review is dedicated to the following key activities:
Melissa Tindage
Leily Farrokhvar
Beverly Cabello
Vickie Yu
Yountae An
Mariano Loza-Coll and
Matthew d’Alessio
Jennifer DeMaio
Robert McIlhenny
Jane Rosenthal Dieken
Laura Wimberley