Reimagining Professional Development: Creating a Sustainable Assessment Learning Model for Student Affairs Staff

The Division of Student Affairs at a large, public, land-grant institution in the southeastern United States has invested nearly a decade in building assessment capacity through structured professional development initiatives. Declining participation in a three-tier, 27-session in-person model prompted a redesign to a 10-module, hybrid curriculum delivered via Canvas. Guided by staff feedback and examined through the lens of the ACCELERATE principles (Aligned Purposefully, Continuously Cultivating, Co-Creative, and Learning-Centered), this mixed-methods program evaluation explores outcomes from pre- and post-surveys, module reflections, and focus groups across two cohorts. Findings indicate increased participant confidence across assessment domains, with the greatest gains in applied skills. Qualitative insights highlight enhanced conceptual clarity, stronger alignment with professional responsibilities, and a preference for the hybrid format, alongside considerations related to pacing and guided practice. Findings demonstrate the effectiveness of applying ACCELERATE principles to support adaptable, learner-centered professional development that strengthens assessment capacity in Student Affairs.