The Student Assessment Scholars program promotes student-led assessment by using a real-world approach to carrying out research with other Lindenwood students for the purposes of institutional improvement.

The Student Assessment Scholars team is looking for University stakeholders to work with this year. A stakeholder is defined as any academic, co-curricular, or administrative unit (or sub-unit) related to the University. If a project is accepted, the stakeholder group becomes a 'client' of the Student Assessment Scholars team.

Who are the Student Assessment Scholars?

Student Assessment Scholars are Lindenwood students who work as interns within Academic Affairs. In their first semester in the program, they participate in a one-credit hour internship that develops skills for qualitative research. In their second semester, they participate in a two-credit hour internship where they carry out research to address clients' issues and questions.

Additional experiential opportunities may be included in the program for smaller research projects that provide insight for action.

Interested in becoming a Student Assessment Scholar? Applications are available online!

How can the Student Assessment Scholars help you?

Student Assessment Scholars elicit input from other Lindenwood students about a client’s issue. This is done using student-led focus groups and interviews. The qualitative data collected are analyzed for key themes, and the findings are written up and presented back to the client as an 'Insight Report'.

What does the process look like?

During the fall semester, Student Assessment Scholars engage in a training program with the Office of Academic Effectiveness to develop qualitative research skills. In October, a Call for Projects is issued to recruit University stakeholders as clients. The Student Assessment Scholars work with the clients to design a small research study/-ies and to carry out focus groups with other students. Clients will receive an Insight Report with their research findings.

What are some examples of client issues that the Student Assessment Scholars could investigate?

Examples from a similar program at the University of Scranton include:

• What are the student perceptions of their digital technology skills after completing a First-Year Digital Technology (FYDT) course?
• How can we improve our Residential Learning Community (RLC) offerings?
• Do the students who study abroad get the experiences that the study abroad office claims they are getting?
• Can we better understand student health and behaviors on campus?

To submit your project request to the Student Assessment Scholars:

Please complete the Stakeholder Proposal Form and submit it to assessment@lindenwood.edu. 

Program Contact

assessment@lindenwood.edu