Assessing General Education Virtual Workshop
Dates: January 22, 23, 29 & 30, 2026 | 12:30–4:00 p.m. CT
Location: Zoom
Registration Fee: $3,500 per team (3-6 members)
Register By: January 7, 2026 | 11:59 p.m. CT
Develop an action plan to improve your general education assessment processes in this collaborative virtual workshop. Gather a team from your institution to critically review the structure, philosophy and perceptions of existing processes and learn best practices from assessment experts.
 
Through four synchronous modules, your team will participate in lectures around learning outcomes, performance indicators, using data effectively and more. You’ll engage in activities to work through challenges and brainstorm actionable solutions. You’ll also gain access to HLC’s online collaboration and project management tool, SparQ, to connect with facilitators and other participating institutions.
Who Should Attend?
Please plan to send three to six representatives from your institution. This may include academic leadership, faculty and staff responsible for gen ed assessment. During registration, you’ll provide the contact information for one team member who will serve as Team Lead. The Team Lead is responsible for assembling and adding team members via SparQ.
Program Fees
HLC Member Institution Fees
$3,500 per team of 3–6 members
Non-Member Institution Fees
$4,000 per team of 3–6 members
Payment Options
Credit Card
Payment via credit card is preferred. HLC accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Checks/ACH
Please include your check number during registration if you select this method.
Additions & Replacements
Additions
Each team is required to assign a Team Lead, who will serve as the primary contact and can add or modify team members in HLC’s online collaboration platform, SparQ. Once registration is complete, the primary contact will receive a confirmation email containing SparQ login information.
Replacements
If a team member can no longer participate in the workshop, the primary contact should delete them from SparQ and attempt to replace them with a substitute team member.
Cancellations & Refunds
Refunds resulting from cancellations will be based on the following dates:
- Cancellations requested on or before January 6, 2026, will be eligible for a full refund, less a $25 processing fee per person.
- Cancellations requested between January 7 and January 21, 2026, will be eligible for a 50% refund, less a $25 processing fee per person.
- No-shows or cancellations requested on or after January 22, 2026, are not eligible for a refund.
Meet the Workshop Facilitators
This virtual workshop is led by HLC Senior Scholars who are responsible for developing and improving the curriculum for HLC’s professional development and institutional improvement programs.
Susan Hatfield
HLC Senior Scholar and Professor Emerita, Winona State University
Susan Hatfield is Professor Emerita in the Communication Studies Department at Winona State University (WSU), where she taught from 1981 to 2015. During that time, she developed and directed WSU’s assessment program, served as a department chairperson, and coordinated the First Year Student Experience. She has previously served on the Board of Visitors for the Marine Corps University and the Board of Directors of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Susan is currently a Trustee with the Palmer College of Chiropractic.
Susan Murphy
HLC Senior Scholar and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President for External Affairs, Central New Mexico Community College
Susan Murphy is retired from a career at the University of New Mexico (UNM) and Central New Mexico Community College (CNM). She taught in Campeche, Mexico at the Universidad Autonoma during a Fulbright assignment and has served in numerous administrative positions. At UNM she coordinated the operations of branch campuses for the Office of the Provost; at CNM she served as Dean of Arts and Sciences, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President for External Affairs. She led CNM’s work in assessment and institutional effectiveness spanning the liberal arts, career, and professional degree programs. Dr. Murphy has consulted widely on issues of accreditation and assessment guiding institutions in developing outcomes, mapping curricula, and designing viable assessment plans. She obtained her doctorate in Romance Languages from the University of New Mexico.
Schedule at a Glance
Module 1: Understanding Your General Education Program
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 12:30 – 4:00 p.m. CT
Kick off the workshop by exploring the philosophy, structure and processes of your current gen ed program. Develop a thorough understanding of these variables to begin developing an assessment plan in the next module.
Module 2: Outcomes, Indicators and Methods
Friday, January 23, 2026, 12:30 – 4:00 p.m. CT
Learn about the key elements of an assessment plan within the context of general education. Examine learning outcomes, performance indicators and assessment methods applicable to gen ed assessment.
Module 3: Measures and Implementation Plans
Thursday, January 29, 2026, 12:30 – 4:00 p.m. CT
Continuing the exploration started in the previous module, you’ll focus on developing gen ed assessment measures and making decisions for designing a General Education Learning Outcome implementation plan.
Module 4: Interpretation and Using Data
Friday, January 30, 2026, 12:30 – 4:00 p.m. CT
Discuss options for understanding and reporting on General Education Learning Outcome data and understand the roles and opportunities for participation in the gen ed assessment process.
Technology Requirements
Platform
Before the event, you will receive an email from [email protected] with login information that will give you access to all workshop materials and activities in SparQ, HLC’s collaborative learning hub. If you do not receive this email, check your spam/promotions folders first, then contact [email protected].
Resources
Sharing of materials will be managed using SparQ, and the live component will be delivered on Zoom. Attendees, or their respective institutions, are responsible for installing and configuring any software or hardware necessary to participate. Follow these steps while checking device compatibility:
- Check the Zoom System Requirements to confirm each team member’s device can support the platform.
- Run an Internet Speed Test on the device(s) that will be connecting to the online meeting. Compare results to the Zoom system requirements to ensure the internet speed matches the recommended bandwidth for meeting attendees.
- Visit the Zoom Download Center to find out whether the latest version is installed or check for updates on your Zoom application.
- For the best experience, it is recommended that built-in computer cameras or webcams are turned on and audio is connected directly through the device or with headphones.
Additional Zoom guidelines and event-specific instructions will be sent out to registered attendees closer to the event date.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register my team for the event?
The Team Lead completes the online registration form on this website and serves as the primary contact for the workshop. The Team Lead can add, remove, and/or replace team members in SparQ (instructions included in the confirmation email).
For additional assistance, please contact [email protected].
What is the maximum number of registrants per institution?
Teams must have a minimum of three team members and a maximum of six team members.
Since this is a team-based event, do all participating team members need to be in one location for the duration of the virtual event?
The workshop will include presentations, team conversations and activities. To facilitate team conversations better, team members can participate from one location, but we accommodate teams joining from various locations.
When will we receive the Zoom login information?
The Zoom link will be provided at least 24 hours prior to each module.
Custom Date
January 22, 23, 29 & 30, 2026January 22, 2026 – January 30, 2026
