ABSTRACT
Student affairs has a powerful story to tell. Divisions of student affairs must continually improve our approaches to telling it with intentionality, data, action, and messaging. It is imperative that we connect our work with others in the institution, that we share our data and results, and learn from their data and results in turn. One of the most effective ways to ensure that our assessment data and results are used is to link them with departmental, divisional, and institutional planning processes. Assessment should be a feedback loop in the planning process “to identify what works and what does not, and to make appropriate adjustments - including resource allocation decisions - directed at more fully realizing the stated planning objectives” (Hollowell et al., 2010, p. 102–103). This chapter highlights key aspects of the assessment process with the lens of application in the planning and decision-making processes. After a description of the planning and budgeting process, the bulk of the chapter focuses on an integrated approach combining assessment with planning, budgeting, and decision-making.
