An Introduction To The Assessment Center

PURPOSES OF THE ASSESSMENT CENTER

1. Better prepare students for the next step in their career
2. Provide a structured way of assessing student strengths and developmental opportunities

3. Create opportunities for learning

STRUCTURE OF ASSESSMENT CENTER

- Participants are given background materials one week prior to assessment day and are expected to complete a case study analysis
-PNC LAC participants are presented with three exercises related to the background material

- Participants also complete 2 written exercises during the day

-All exercises and materials are identical for all participants

COMPETENCIES ASSESSED
Analyzing & Interpreting
Creating & Conceptualizing Interacting & Presenting Leading & Deciding Organizing & Executing Supporting & Cooperating

MY ROLE AS A RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Throughout the semester, attend weekly planning meetings
Develop the exercises for the participants

Day of Assessment Center:

- Set up participant and assessor offices - Distribute exercise materials to all participants

- Coordinate participant and assessor schedules to keep everyone on track

DEVELOPMENT OF WEBSITES
- Each assessment center revolves around a fictional organization scenario
- Examples: Dinner and a Movie merger, coffee Company merger, Big Buddies foundation - For the past five years, all background material was given to participants as paper printout packets - Last spring, all exercise material was converted in the form of websites for participants to view and read in a more streamlined fashion - I was in charge of creating the websites that showed all of background material