UC Assessment Conference

Agenda

2025 Conference Agenda

Join us for the second UC Assessment Conference, hosted by the Center for Educational Effectiveness at UC Davis. This year's theme is Equity-Minded Student Learning Outcomes Assessment across the Institution.

8:30 – 9 a.m.
Check-In and Breakfast

Location: Conference Center Entrance & Ballroom CB

Please check in with conference organizers to collect your name badge.

9 – 10 a.m.
Opening Plenary

Location: Ballroom CB

  • Opening Remarks

    • Michael Bradford, MFA, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education, UC Davis

  • Keynote Speaker: Natasha Jankowski, PhD

    • Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    • Former Executive Director, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment

10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions 1

View Session 1 Presentation Abstracts and Presenter Details

1.A: Institutional Innovations | Ballroom CB

  • The UCLA Cluster Program: An Innovative Model for General Education

    • Anthony Friscia, Director, UCLA Cluster Program
    • Jen Hirashiki, Academic Coordinator for Shared Governance and Educational Initiatives, UCLA
    • Leigh Harris, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education Initiatives, UCLA Division of Undergraduate Education

  • Refreshing the Division of Student Affairs Learning Domains: A Strategic Approach to Enhancing Co-Curricular Student Learning at UC Irvine

    • Laura Monje-Paulson, Director, Student Affairs Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, UC Irvine

  • UC San Diego’s Assessment Learning Community Pilot Designed to Close Equity Gaps

    • Speakers TBA

1.B: Strategies for Equitable Course Assessment | Ballroom A

  • Strategies for Equitable Assessment in Undergraduate Psychology Courses

    • Hayden Hendley, Assistant Professor of Teaching, Psychology, UC Riverside
    • Jason Isbell, Assistant Teaching Professor, Psychology, UC Merced
    • Victoria Cross, Associate Professor of Teaching, Psychology, UC Davis
    • Annie S. Ditta, Associate Professor of Teaching, Psychology, UC Riverside

  • Using a Course Rubric to Maintain Rigorous Assessments in a Project-Based Course

    • Susan P. Gentry, Associate Professor of Teaching, Materials Science and Engineering, UC Davis
    • Declan Kopper, Graduate Student, Materials Science and Engineering, UC Davis

  • Using Short, Pre-/Post-Lecture Assignments to Adapt Instruction to Students’ Needs

    • Korana Burke, Continuing Lecturer, Mathematics, UC Davis
    • Rohit Thomas, Continuing Lecturer, Mathematics, UC Davis

1.C: Rethinking Grades | Conference Room B

  • “I Feel So Failed”: Grading as a Barrier to Equitable Student Learning Assessment

    • Melissa Ko, Assessment & Curriculum Design Specialist, UC Berkeley
    • Rachel Weiher, Equitable Assessment Consultant, UC Berkeley

  • Engaging Faculty to Rethink Grades: Strategies and Use Cases for Alternative and Equitable Assessment

    • Samantha Eastman, Senior Learning Experience Designer, XCITE Center for Teaching & Learning, UC Riverside
    • Mariah Cladis, Learning Specialist, XCITE Center for Teaching & Learning, UC Riverside
    • Fabiola Torres, Humanized Online Instructor of Ethnic Studies, Glendale Community College
    • Alex Rockey, Faculty, Academic Technology Professor, Bakersfield College

  • Contract Grading

    • Cassie Hemstrom, Lecturer, University Writing Center, UC Davis

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions 2

View Session 2 Presentation Abstracts & Presenter Details

2.A: Roundtable Discussions: Students as Assessment Partners | Ballroom CB

  • Piloting a Holistic Evaluation Plan for an Inclusive and Equitable Learning Environment

    • Teresa Sherzer, Director, Education Programs Evaluation, School of Nursing, UC San Francisco
    • Marianne Biangone, Clinical Professor and Assistant Dean, Curriculum and Program Evaluation, School of Nursing, UC San Francisco

  • From Collaborative Grading Contract to Community Rubrics, How Do You Empower Students to Generate Their Own Assessments?

    • DJ Quinn, Lecturer, University Writing Center, UC Davis

  • Closing the Assessment Cycle: Co-Creating Inclusive Learning through Student-Faculty Partnerships

    • Adriana Signorini, Educational Assessment Coordinator, UC Merced
    • SATAL Undergraduate Student Interns:
      • Khushi Bagri, SATAL Research Intern, UC Merced
      • Jaime Castellanos, SATAL Research Intern, UC Merced
      • Francisco Guerrero, SATAL Research Intern, UC Merced
      • Ayaan Gulati, SATAL Research Intern, UC Merced
      • Tina Li, SATAL Research Intern, UC Merced
      • Annalie Ma, SATAL Research Intern, UC Merced
      • Adelina Murillo, SATAL Research Intern, UC Merced
      • Elena Navarro, Undergraduate Student, UC Merced
      • Atom Ramirez, SATAL Research Intern, UC Merced
      • Myron Ramirez, SATAL Research Intern, UC Merced
      • Bryan Zaragoza, SATAL Research Intern, UC Merced

2.B: Asset-Based Frameworks for Assessment | Ballroom A

  • Framing an Equity-Focused, Asset-Based Assessment Study

    • Linda Adler-Kassner, Associate Vice Chancellor of Teaching and Learning, UC Santa Barbara

  • Creating Data Tools to Support Equity-Focused Analysis

    • Laurel Wilder, Associate Director of Institutional Research, UC Santa Barbara

  • Shifting Mindsets: Seeing All Students as Capable STEM Thinkers

    • Cory Antonakos, Professor of Chemistry, Diablo Valley College
    • Michelle Douskey, Senior Lecturer, Chemistry, UC Berkeley

2.C: AI and Assessment | Conference Room B

  • Enhancing Mathematics Learning Outcomes: Exploring Innovative Assessment in an AI-Enabled Educational Landscape

    • Xiaochen Xu, PhD Student, School of Education, UC Davis
    • Tony Albano, Associate Professor, School of Education, UC Davis

12:30 – 1:15 p.m.
Lunch

Location: Conference Center Entrance & Ballroom CB

Grab a boxed lunch and grow your network by sitting with colleagues from other campuses and/or departments.

1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions 3

View Session 3 Presentation Abstracts & Presenter Details

3.A: Roundtable Discussions: New Arenas, Familiar Terrains | Ballroom CB

  • Equitably Assessing Students’ Writing

    • Valeria Mutc, Assistant Professor, Russian Program, UC Davis

  • Radical Rubrics: Equity-Minded Assessment for Courses and Programs

    • Jason Masino, Undergraduate Research Programs Coordinator, UC Davis

  • Assessing AI Literacy: A Framework for Students (and Ourselves)

    • Erica Bender, Assessment Specialist, Center for Educational Effectiveness, UC Davis

3.B: Rethinking Exams | Ballroom A

  • From Policy to Practice: Ensuring Equity in Nursing Education Assessments

    • Marianne Bangione, Clinical Professor and Assistant Dean, Curriculum and Program Evaluation, School of Nursing, UC San Francisco

  • Equitable Assessment in Anatomy: An Actionable and Data-Driven Approach for Development of Laboratory Practical Examinations

    • Jennifer A. Weil, Academic Coordinator & Assistant Clinical Professor, Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, UC Davis
    • Douglas S. Gross, Distinguished Professor, Cell Biology and Human Anatomy & Clinical Professor, Pediatrics, UC Davis

  • Does Everyone Get an A? Considerations and Best Practices for Transitioning from Closed-Book to Open-Book Exams

    • Debbie Fetter, Associate Professor of Teaching, Nutrition, UC Davis

3.C: Leveraging Classrooms for Equitable Assessment | Conference Room B

  • Spaces that Matter: Promoting Student Learning and Belonging through Discussion Sections

    • Anna Sher, Director, Assessment for Learning Excellence and Equity (ALEE) Center, UC Santa Cruz
    • Priscilla Sung, Senior Assessment Specialist, ALEE Center, UC Santa Cruz

  • Equitable Active Learning Design in Flipped/Hybrid Classrooms

    • Megan B. McNamara, Instructional Designer and Continuing Lecturer in Sociology, UC Santa Cruz

  • Developing a Measure to Assess Teacher Candidates Approaches to Classroom Assessment

    • Valeria Zunino, PhD Candidate, School of Education, UC Davis
    • Megan Welsh, Associate Professor, School of Education, UC Davis

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions 4

View Session 4 Presentation Abstracts & Presenter Details

4.A: Holistic Support for Learning | Ballroom CB

  • Supporting Indigenous Science in High-Impact Education

    • Nina Fontana, Research Faculty, Native American Studies, UC Davis

  • Assessing Mathematical Resilience and Confidence

    • Rob Rubalcaba, Math Professor, San Diego City College
    • Ysabel Nevarez, Math Academic Support Coordinator, Teaching + Learning Commons, UC San Diego
    • Tyler Rogers, Educational Equity Data Specialist, Teaching + Learning Commons, UC San Diego

  • The Impact of On-Campus Housing on Student and Family Well-Being: Equity-Minded Strategies for Assessment

    • Laura Dorfman, Director of Community Living and Learning, Graduate and Family Housing, UC Irvine
    • Gretchen Brunk Verdugo, Strategic Programs Director for Graduate and Family Housing, UC Irvine

4.B: Responding to Student Needs and Experiences | Ballroom A

  • Qualtrics to the Rescue: Using Qualtrics to Assess and Respond to the Library Research Needs of Undergraduates

    • William Cuthbertson, Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences Librarian, UC Davis
    • Melinda M. Livas, STEM Librarian, UC Davis

  • Co-Creating Equitable Learning Environments through a Student-Faculty Partnership

    • Adrien Peltzer, Unit 18 Lecturer, Applied Mathematics, UC Merced
    • Tommy Tran, Lecturer, History/Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, UC Merced
    • Yang Lor, Assistant Teaching Professor, Sociology, UC Merced
    • Adriana Signorini, Educational Assessment Coordinator, UC Merced

  • Understanding Student Online Learning Experiences: Insights from Student Surveys and Faculty Interviews

    • April Yan, Senior Data Analyst, Teaching + Learning Commons, UC San Diego
    • Cindy Mui Perez, Senior Instructional Designer, Teaching + Learning Commons, UC San Diego
    • Naomi T Lin, Graduate Student Researcher, Teaching + Learning Commons, UC San Diego

3:45 – 4:30 p.m.
Closing Plenary

Please join us to reflect on the day, explore next steps and close the conference.