Keynote Presentation

Beyond Data: Leveraging Change Management to Maximize Assessment’s Impact in Higher Education

Assessment is only as powerful as the change it inspires. Yet too often, assessment results are collected, reported, and shelved—failing to translate into meaningful action. This keynote, grounded in the book Maximizing the Impact of Assessment in Higher Education: Closing the Loop with Change Management, co-edited by Cynthia Cogswell and Gavin W. Henning, challenges higher education leaders to rethink how they approach assessment work. Drawing on organizational change theories and real-world institutional case studies, the talk explores how embedding intentional change management practices within the assessment cycle can build momentum, foster buy-in, and ultimately close the loop in ways that lead to improved learning, development, and institutional effectiveness. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and a renewed vision for how assessment, when coupled with a structured approach to change, can drive continuous improvement across campuses.

Presented by:  Cindy Cogswell, Ph.D. and Gavin Henning, Ph.D.

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