11th Annual Conference

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11th Annual Conference
Atlanta - Georgia
Opening General Session
September 9 - 2010
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An Exciting Time in the Field of Testing !
Testing Industry Momentum Growth and Change
Multi-Billion
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Testing Companies are Increasing in Size and in
Number
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Paper Pencil Volumes Worldwide are Continuing
to Move to CBT
This academic year more than one million PP
tests will move to CBT
Tens of millions of tests still remain PP
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New service providers are entering the field
supporting all aspects of testing
New test delivery vendors are emerging focusing
on selected market niches
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Larger test delivery vendors are growing
by buying smaller testing-related companies
Even large test delivery vendors are being sold
to other large test delivery vendors
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Independent commercial test centers are just
starting to emerge around world promising to
introduce a new dynamic into the traditional
academic and corporate designations.
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Emerging technologies are introducing new
paradigms for test delivery
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Continuing advances in reconciling psychometric
opportunities with existing business restrictions
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So whats going on in academia?
Is there growth and change underway in the
nations colleges that could enhance the value of
college testing departments?
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In Academia
Assessment in general is more integrated into
the institutional process then ever before
Increased need for secure testing to support
On-Line Learning
Increased recognition of the importance of
Placement Testing
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In Academia
Increasing demand for centralized make-up testing
Increasing demand centralized testing for
on-campus courses
Increased value of test revenue in financially
demanding times
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As our value to our colleges increases what do we
find?
reduced budgets
increased work load
reduced staffing
increased expectations
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College administrators arent really sure about
what they should do with us
Student Affairs?
Academic Affairs?
Student Retention?
Counseling?
Institutional Assessment?
Enrollment Management?
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College administrators arent really sure about
who we are or what we do!
College Testing Professional ? ? ?
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College Testing Professional
Dedicated to established national standards
professional practices in the administration of
testing programs and services
Committed to fair and consistent testing
maintaining the security and standardization
demanded for the equitable and reliable
administration of life impacting assessments.
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College Testing Professional
Negotiate agreements with outside vendors
UNIQUE !
Respond to changes in a commercial industry
Provide services to individuals outside your
college community
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College Testing Professional
Hire and Supervise
Operate Multiple Software Systems
Oversee Inventory
Establish Budgets
Adapt to Multiple Outside Operational Protocols
Handle Revenue
Maintain Web Page Content
Skills Required ?
Develop Publications
Work Directly with Local and National Vendors
Purchasing Invoicing
Provide Support to Both Academic Student Affairs
Offer Services Daytime, Evenings, Weekends
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Answer Sheets
College Testing Professional
Phone Calls
Shipments
Proctoring
Test Irregularities
Teachers
Students
Test Security
Absentees
P.O.s
Faxes
Scheduling
E-Mails
Administration
Software
Budgets
Test Admin Manuals
Supplies
Staff
Room Reservations
Secure Storage
Parents
Procedures
Test Inventory
Venders
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College Testing Professional
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College Testing Professional
Help
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College Testing Professional
Don't Dispair
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National Standards
How-To Help
Best Practices
Professional Colleagues
Resources Guidance
Professional Credibility Within Your Institution
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A Personal Perspective
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The College Testing Professional
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The Future and NCTA
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NCTA is at a Crossroad
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WHO SHOULD NCTA SERVE?
Duh! Our name says it all. NCTA should serve
only Colleges.
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WHO SHOULD NCTA SERVE?
What about the testing professionals in the
nations public elementary and secondary school
districts?
What about the thousands of testing professionals
working in licensing agencies and certification
bodies, and in non-profit organizations, and in
State Departments of Education?
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WHO SHOULD NCTA SERVE?
Let those other testing people do their own
thing and well do our thing ! !
These are not college people !
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The Precedents for College Leadership
The is a rich history of leadership by assessment
and testing professionals within the nations
colleges that has created the fields of
psychometrics, assessment and testing.
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Early 1900's
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1920's
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1930's
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1950's
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Golden Age of Standardized Testing
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For-profit testing companies are a relatively new
phenomenon in the field of testing.
The Colleges historically led the way.
Why should it be different now?
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NCTA is the only national organization dedicated
to the development and promotion of professional
standards and practices in testing.
Heres the NCTA Mission
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NCTA is dedicated to the promotion of
professionalism and quality in the
administration of testing services and programs,
including issues relating to test administration,
test development, test scoring and assessment.
It doesnt say just for colleges!
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IT IS BETTER TO LEAD THAN TO FOLLOW
. . . IF YOU ARE ALREADY THE LEADER
NCTA SHOULD LEAD THE TESTING WORLD !
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This Past Year in NCTA
Implemented the NCTA Board Grant Program
Created a Volunteer Service Program
Refocused the Professional Development Initiative
Launched a Marketing Committee Initiative
Launched a Recruitment Committee Initiative
Completed the Phase-1 Pilot of the NCTA Test
Center Certification Program
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Restructured the Conference Sponsorship Program
Completed the first phase of the Web Site Redesign
Restructured the Treasurer Role and Finances
Launched Multiple Communications Initiatives
Introduced a New Award Category for Service
Completed Board Position Manuals
Expanded Board Size and Extended Officer Terms
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The BOARD GRANT PROGRAM
Brian Endicott Committee Chair
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NCTA BOARD GRANT PROGRAM
Grant Committee Members
Brian Endicott (Chair) The Ohio State
University, Columbus
Jill Carlson San Juan
College, Farmington, NM
Lea Brown East Tennessee
State U, Johnson City
Mike Davis Austin Community
College, Austin
Roberto Voci University of
Oklahoma, Norman
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NCTA BOARD GRANT PROGRAM
PURPOSE
Support projects and activities that promote the
Mission
Support the formation of State testing
organizations
Encourage professional support activities for
members
Offer professional development opportunities for
members
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NCTA BOARD GRANT PROGRAM
ELIGIBILITY
NCTA members and groups of members in good
standing
Other Groups and organizations supporting the
Mission
Award Recipients may not apply again for two
years
The NCTA Board may modify these Eligibilities in
the future
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NCTA BOARD GRANT PROGRAM
AWARDS
Grants will initially range between 300 and
3,000
The NCTA Board will set the Award Pool total
annually
The Board set aside 12,000 for Grant Awards for
FY10
FY10 Awards Granted total 10,400
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Inaugural Year Grant Program Time Line
The timeline for FY11 Award cycle will be
available at the breakout session and will be
published on the NCTA website.
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FY10 AWARD RECIPIENTS
3,000 FACTA Florida Association of College
Test Administrators
Support for the 2nd Annual FACTA Conference
3,000 Arizona College Testing Association
Support to Launch the Organization and
Hold a First Meeting
1,800 Kentucky College Testing
Mini-Conference Support for a
Statewide Meeting of KY College Testing Staff
1,400 Indiana University/Purdue University at
Indianapolis Support for Expanding
Testing Services Available to Faculty
1,200 Winthrop University at Rock Hill, SC
Support for Staff Training and
Professional Development
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Professional Development Committee
Steve Saladin Committee Chair
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Professional Development Committee
Steve Saladin, University of Idaho (Chair)
Connie Lorrick, University of Texas, Arlington
(Past Chair)
Kay Alford, Coastal Carolina University
Cristina Ariza, University of the Incarnate Word
Cheryl Downey-Eber, Missouri U. of Science
Technology
Alice A Mitchell, University of Maryland, College
Park
Shannon Siebler, Northwest Arkansas Community
College
Wendy Gruver, Texas AM University, Commerce
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Professional Development Initiatives
Conference Recordings Podcasts with
Synchronized Audio and PowerPoint
Webinars - Topical trainings - Live /
Interactive - Library of Recorded Trainings
Standards Guidelines for Testing Professionals
Maximize the Professional Development
Opportunities within the Certification Process
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Volunteer Service Program
Sally FrazeeChair
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NCTA Volunteer Service Program
Maximize volunteer service to the organization
by actively recruiting volunteers
Match NCTA positions and projects with members
who volunteer to serve
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Initial Steps Taken Completed
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2009-2010 Volunteer Highlights

• Committee Chairs
• Joseph Fenty Recruitment
• Joleen Reynolds - Marketing
• Marketing Recruitment Committee Members
• Kay Alford
• Regina Beach
• Cindy Bertalott
• Anastasia Brown
• Nancy Ness
• Susan Sistar
• BJ Stasek
• Linda Trevarthan
• Mary Vaughn

NCTA Testing Times
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• Make a point to talk to me over the next few days
  
• Send me an e-mail when you get back to the office
  
• Watch for mailing list announcements
• Check the website for Volunteer Service
  opportunities

• If you are even
• the slightest bit interested in
• joining the cause.

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Become an NCTA Volunteer

• I look forward to working with you!

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Sally Frazee
sally.frazee_at_temple.edu
NCTA Volunteer Service Program
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Marketing Committee
Joleen Reynolds Committee Chair
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NCTA Marketing Committee
Joleen Reynolds, (Chair) University of Texas -
San Antonio
Nancy Ness, Boise State University
Theresa Scott, Florida Atlantic University
Mary Vaughn, Mississippi State University
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NCTA Marketing Objectives
Increase awareness of NCTA as Leader in the
testing field
Expand the awareness of the benefits of membership
Promote the NCTA brand
Promote increased member participation in NCTA
Facilitate the development of State testing
organizations
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Targeted NCTA Markets

• Non-Members in Four-Year Colleges

• Non-Members in Two-Year Colleges

• Current NCTA members

• National Certification Organizations

• State Licensing Agencies

• Assessment and Testing Related Corporations

• Public School District Administrators

• International Testing Professionals

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Initial Committee Activities
Aligned the Objectives with the Targeted Markets
Developed a List of Actions for Each Market
Developed a List of Marketing Resources
First Market the CCTC to On-Line Learning
Departments

• Acquired a list of all major On-Line Learning
• Departments in domestic Colleges with contact
• names and e-mail addresses

• Developed marketing-focused correspondence

• Acquired a dedicated NCTA marketing e-mail
  address

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Immediate Next Steps
Complete a comprehensive Marketing Plan
Develop a variety of marketing resources
Target the low hanging fruit next
Establish a detailed Action Plan for each target
Continue to push ahead !
Joleen.reynolds_at_utsa.edu
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Recruitment Committee
Joseph Fenty Committee Chair
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NCTA Recruitment Committee
Joseph Fenty, (Chair) Washtenaw Community College
Kay Alford, Coastal Carolina University
Regina Beach, Morehead State University
Cynthia Bertalott, University of Central Missouri
Anastasia Brown, College of the Bahamas
BJ Stasek, University of South Florida
Linda Trevarthan, Michigan State University
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Recruitment Committee Activities
Develop a State Liaison Kit to support
founding and growing State Testing Organizations
Reach out to non-member community colleges to
attract new members (Conducted outreach in MI, FL
SC)
Attract GED Test Centers into NCTA as
Members (Conducted outreach in MI)
Enlisted the help of NCTA State Liaison members
to identify non-NCTA members in their States
Motivate current collegiate members to actively
recruit colleagues as members
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Recruitment Committee FY11 Objectives
Collaborate with the Marketing Committee to
develop recruitment tools, identify market
segments and coordinate outreach.
Collaborate with the State Liason Committee to
benefit from the relationship they have
established.
Develop publications and other recruiting
materials.
Develop a comprehensive Member Recruitment Plan
targeting potential Collegiate, Non-Collegiate
and Corporate members
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Test Center Certification Project
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Certifying What ?
Certify Test Centers - - - Not People
Standards
Resources
Policies
Facilities
Staffing
Procedures
etc.
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Certifying that . . . ?
Certifying that the Test Center meets
established Professional Standards . . .
meets
. . . has in place the facilities, resources,
staffing, standards, policies, procedures, etc,
as prescribed and published by NCTA
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Your State Department of Motor Vehicles
certifies your car is road worthy.
It does not certify how well you drive it!
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NCTA is not certifying how well staff are
applying professional standards
That would require an Audit
An audit demands on-site observations and
detailed analyses of the programs performance
and management.
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We are not implementing an Audit Program.
YET . . . ?
A Future NCTA Test Center Audit Program ?
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For Certification Program Information
Go to www.NCTA-Testing.org
Click on About
Click on Committees
Click on Reference Documents
Scroll down to Certification . . .
http//www.ncta-testing.org/ncta/committees/files/
index.php
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Certification Program Information
http//www.ncta-testing.org/ncta/committees/files/
index.php
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Certification Program Information
MEETING MINUTES Test Center Certification
Committee Minutes from Sixty One Meetings from
February 2008 to the Present
http//www.ncta-testing.org/ncta/committees/files/
index.php
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NCTA Test Center Certification Process Outline
http//www.ncta-testing.org/ncta/committees/files/
index.php
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Test Center Certification Program
Duane Goupell Committee Chair
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Test Center Certification Committee
Duane Goupell, Chair U of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Vicki Black University of
Memphis
Kimberly Moody Temple University
Steve Saladin University of
Idaho
Theresa Scott Florida Atlantic
University

• Gayle Veltman Wichita State
  University

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Accomplishments for 2009-2010

• Developed Criteria for Evaluation

• Developed Application and Other Forms

• Developed Review Processes Procedures

• Completed Phase 1 of Pilot and Launched
• Phases 2 and 3

• Prepared Time-Line Budget for Project
  Completion

• First NCTA Test Center Certifications Awarded

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Goals for 2010-2011
Complete Phases 2 and 3 of Pilot
Develop Q A for Website
Recruit Volunteers for Certification Review
Committee
Finalize all Forms, Policies and Procedures
Establish Time Lines for Process
Submit Final Project Report and Recommendations
to Governing Board
Launch Certification Program
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NCTA Certified Test Centers
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, MI
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Just Ahead Moving the NCTA Test Center
Certification Program from Pilot to
Operation Will be Both Challenging and Demanding
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Closing Remarks
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David Espinoza University of Oregon NCTA
President Elect
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11th Annual Conference
Atlanta - Georgia
Opening General Session
September 9 - 2010
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