Invitations Reflect University System's Growing ReputationCHARLES TOWN, W.Va., Mar 26, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Dr.
Frank McCluskey, Provost and Executive Vice President of American
Public University System, and Dr. Phil Ice, Director of Course
Design and Research, have been invited by Educational Testing Service
(ETS) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to provide counsel on
issues surrounding academic assessments and quality in connection with
two upcoming conferences.
ETS,
a nonprofit organization which advances quality and equity in education
by creating assessments based on rigorous research, has invited Dr.
McCluskey to participate in its Central Regional College and University
Advisory Council, which will meet in Chicago next month during the North
Central Administration of the Higher Learning Commission Annual Meeting.
The ETS panel includes a select group of higher education leaders
brought together to share ideas and best practices in addressing
assessment-related challenges. According to ETS, a particular focus of
the April meeting will be on the assessment of student learning outcomes
in general education and in the major.
APUS uses the ETS MAPP or Measures of Academic Proficiency and Progress
and the MFT or Major Field Test which indicate where graduates stand in
relation to national norms. The APUS
learning outcomes assessment Web site has been cited as a reference
by such schools as Minnesota State, North Carolina State University and
Loyola University.
Dr. McCluskey, along with Dr. Phil Ice, has also been invited to
participate in an April meeting on quality in online education by the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has made the productive use of
technology a cornerstone of its support of both K-12 and post-secondary
education.
"On behalf of APUS, I'm honored our university is being recognized for
our dedication both to quality instructional practices and to our use of
metrics to measure and improve learning outcomes," said McCluskey.
APUS's work was recognized in 2009 by the Sloan C Foundation with the
Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education, which honors the
institution that best demonstrates its commitment to assessing and
improving the quality of its online education programs. APUS is the
first-ever for-profit online university to receive the prestigious
award. The University also was a finalist last year for the I-Strategy
Award for the use of a data warehouse in higher education.
About American Public University System
American Public University System offers over 100 online certificate and
degree programs and educates more than 60,000 adult learners worldwide.
APU's relevant curriculum, affordability and flexibility help working
adults pursue degrees in subjects ranging from homeland security to
management and liberal arts. A university book grant provides course
reading materials at no cost to eligible undergraduate students.
SOURCE: American Public University System
American Public University System
Christopher Symanoskie
AVP, Corporate Communications
703-334-3880