The Office of Institutional Effectiveness at Sul Ross State University announced the recipients of the 2023-2024 Best Academic Program Assessment Awards.

Dr. Melissa Wesney and Dr. Jessica Velasco were named for their outstanding academic assessment reports for the Bachelor of Science in Education and the Master of Public Administration, respectively, both receiving a remarkable peer rating of 84 percent, exemplifying excellence in program evaluation and improvement.

The winners were selected during the Annual Academic Program Peer Review.

In recognition of their achievements, each awardee will receive up to $750 in stipends and $250 for professional development. This initiative is part of the university’s commitment to encourage high-quality academic assessments across all programs.

“Being recognized by my peers for writing a top assessment report for the Master of Public Administration program is a huge honor,” said Dr. Velasco, an associate professor of Political Science and Public Administration “Not only does it shine a light on my program, but also on the crucial task of assessing our student learning outcomes and reporting the results of those assessments. While I can’t say that I love writing assessment reports, I appreciate them because they allow us to engage in an annual reflection on what our programs are, what we are doing well, and what we need to adapt to promote the growth and longevity of each program.”

Dr. Wesney, an assistant professor of Education, added, “Assessment is critical for continuous growth and development. It allows us to celebrate our strengths and focus on ways to make our program even better. It is really a team effort, and I couldn’t ask for a better team.”

As part of their recognition, the two will lead a community of practice around program assessment, offering training opportunities throughout the upcoming year.

For more information, email ie@sulross.edu.