Rubrics as a Foundation for Assessing Student Competencies: One Public Administration Program’s Creative Exercise

Authors

Billie Sandberg, Portland State UniversityFollow
Kevin Kecskes, Portland State UniversityFollow

Published In

Journal of Public Affairs Education

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

Subjects

Portland State University -- Curriculum, Interdisciplinary approach in education

Abstract

Since implementation of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) standards for accreditation in 2009, public administration programs have been developing programmatic competencies that reflect NASPAA’s universal standards. Likewise, myriad efforts have analyzed data related to student and program progress toward achievement of these competencies. This article adds to that conversation by recounting the approach to assessing competencies used in the Department of Public Administration at Portland State University. There, newly developed rubrics reflect each of the department’s 10 competencies to examine whether students are acquiring the desired knowledge and skills. This article discusses the development and design of the rubrics as well as elements of gaining faculty and student input in the process.

Description

This is the publisher's PDF. Copyright © NASPAA 2017.

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/21243

Citation Details

Sandberg, B., & Kecskes, K. (2017). Rubrics as a Foundation for Assessing Student Competencies: One Public Administration Program's Creative Exercise. Journal Of Public Affairs Education, 23(1), 637-652.