A Comprehensive Approach to Assessing Leadership Students and Programs: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

Assessment and evaluation of leadership students is an important aspect of furthering the academic discipline of leadership. Furthermore, assessment and evaluation of leadership programs help ground programs in the needs of students while working within the constraints of academe. This article focuses first on defining and building a framework for assessment and evaluation. Assessment and evaluation should be based on a multi-method and longitudinal philosophy. Second, this article provides some preliminary findings regarding the assessment and evaluation of an academic leadership program. Evaluation of the results indicates that students in the leadership studies program are overwhelmingly pleased with their experience. Though assessment and evaluation show promising results, more long-term research must be performed to understand the improvement of student reaction, knowledge, behavior, and results.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Anthony-Gonzalez, M.L. , Fintak, T.N. (1981). "Evaluation of Leadership Programs." Student Leadership Programs in Higher Education. Carbondale , III.: American College Personnel Association.

Astin, A.W. (1991). Assessment for Excellence: The Philosophy and Practice of Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. New York: MacMillan Publishing.

Burns, J.M. (1978). Leadership. New York: Harper & Row Publishers.

Gardiner, L.F. (1989). Planning for Assessment: Mission Statements. Goals. and Obiectives. Rutgers University.

Kirkpatrick, D.L. (1976). "Evaluation and Training." Training and Development Handbook. In Craig & Bittle (Eds.), New York : McGraw Hill.

Kouzes, J.M. , Posner, B.Z. (1993). Leadership Practices Inventory: Trainer's Manual . San Diego: Pfeiffer & Co mpany.

Mayo, G.D. , & DuBois, P.H. (1987). The complete book of training: Theory principles, and techniques. San Diego, CA: University Associates.

Patton, M.Q. (1987). How to Use Qualitative Methods in Evaluation. Newsbury Park: Sage Publications.

Roberts, D.C. , Ullon, C. (1989). "Student Leadership Program Model." National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. 27 (1).

10.

Simonds, P.W. (1988). A Beginner's Guide to Leadership Traininig Programs . Columbia, SC. National Association for Campus Activities Educational Foundation.