Canadian Student Affairs Assessment Institute (CSAAI)

Registration Now Open!

About the Institute

The Canadian Student Affairs Assessment Institute (CSAAI) is a guided and scaffolded professional learning experience designed to help student affairs practitioners strengthen their assessment knowledge, confidence, and applied skills.

Designed around the CACUSS Research, Assessment & Strategic Planning competencies, the Institute supports participants in developing meaningful and sustainable approaches to assessing programs, services, learning, resources, and student experiences within post-secondary education.

Learning Experience

Through a blend of theory, application, peer dialogue, facilitated work time, and collaborative learning, participants will explore foundational approaches to assessment while actively developing components of a Signature Program Assessment (SPA) connected to their own professional context.

Using a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning, participants will engage with experienced facilitators and practitioners through large and small group learning, reflection, discussion, and applied practice.

Throughout the Institute, participants will work on components of a Signature Program Assessment (SPA) connected to their own professional context, helping them build practical approaches to effectively measure a program, service, initiative, or resource within student affairs.

Whether participants are newer to assessment or looking to build upon existing experience, the Institute is designed to support practical learning that can be adapted across institutional contexts and areas of practice.

Who the Institute is For

This Institute is intended for student affairs professionals across functional areas and experience levels who are looking to:

• strengthen foundational assessment knowledge and skills
• build confidence with evidence-informed practice
• assess programs, services, learning, initiatives, resources, or student experiences more effectively
• engage with assessment through an equity-minded and practical lens

What Participants Will Gain

Participants will leave with:

• greater confidence navigating assessment conversations and practices
• draft components of a Signature Program Assessment (SPA) connected to their own professional context
• strengthened assessment skills that can be immediately applied to effectively measure programs, services, initiatives, resources, or student experiences
• practical strategies and tools that can continue to be developed within their professional practice

Delivery Format

Virtual Institute delivered via Zoom.

2026 Institute Dates

Day One — Tuesday, November 3
Day Two — Thursday, November 5
Day Three — Tuesday, November 10
Day Four — Thursday, November 12
Day Five — Tuesday, November 17
Day Six — Thursday, November 19

Time

Sessions run from:

• 10:00am–12:00pm PST
• 11:00am–1:00pm MST
• 1:00pm–3:00pm EST
• 2:00pm–4:00pm AST

Each session is approximately 2 hours.

Institute Curriculum + Session Details

The Institute is designed as a guided curricular experience where participants will engage with a variety of experienced facilitators and practitioners through large and small group learning, reflection, application, and collaborative discussion.

Day One (Tuesday, November 3) — Culture of Evidence

• Introduction: Culture of Evidence
• Featured Panel Discussion
• Equity and Assessment

Day Two (Thursday, November 5) — Learning Outcomes & Goals

• Signature Program Assessment (SPA) Overview
• Learning Outcomes & Goals (with Integrated Practical Component)

Day Three (Tuesday, November 10) — Tools & Approaches

• SPA Work Time: Learning Outcomes
• Introduction to Assessment Tools
• Conversation: Successes, Challenges & Reflections on Tools

Day Four (Thursday, November 12) — Positioning, Relationships & Analysis

• Reflection & Discussion: Tools Recordings
• SPA Work Time: Tools in Practice
• Positionality, Relationships & Analysis

Day Five (Tuesday, November 17) — Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis

• Choose One: Quantitative or Qualitative Analysis
• Practitioner Conversation: Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis in Practice
• SPA Work Time: Analysis

Day Six (Thursday, November 19) — Action & Planning

• Case Studies: Action & Planning
• Relational Storytelling in Assessment Practice
• Conversation: Next Steps & Continuing Practice

Featured Panel Discussion

The Institute will include a featured panel conversation exploring assessment in practice across different institutional contexts, organizational structures, and professional roles.

Rather than focusing solely on senior leadership perspectives, this discussion will bring together practitioners working across varying levels and areas of student affairs to explore how assessment is approached, implemented, and sustained in different environments.

The conversation will highlight the realities, challenges, and opportunities connected to assessment practice within Canadian post-secondary education.

Meet the Facilitation Team

Jeff Burrow (he/him)

Jeff Burrow (PhD-OISE) is currently a Special Projects Officer at the University of Toronto, focused on the development of data systems and strategies relating to supporting undergraduate student retention and graduation. Prior to that, he worked for seven years as the Manager of Assessment & Analysis for Student Life at the University of Toronto, supporting departments in developing assessment strategies and coordinating professional development to build assessment capacity across the Division.

Jeff has played a significant leadership role in assessment-focused professional learning within CACUSS, including coordinating previous Assessment Institutes and serving as faculty for the joint ACPA/CACUSS Assessment Institute. He has presented at CACUSS and ACPA events more than 15 times with particular interests in survey development, data analysis, and data visualization.

Atifa F. Karim (she/her)

Atifa F. Karim is a lifelong learner, educator, and systems thinker who aims to create empowering and transformational learning experiences and spaces. Having worked across a variety of functional areas within student affairs, Atifa brings a collaborative and equity-minded approach to curriculum design and assessment, with a strong focus on engaging students as partners in learning and evaluation processes.

Atifa has contributed to the development and delivery of several CACUSS professional learning experiences, including serving as a Curriculum Co-Chair and faculty member for the ACPA/CACUSS Assessment Institute. She holds Honours Bachelor degrees in Environmental Studies and Education from York University, as well as a Master of Education in Higher Education and Educational Policy from the University of Toronto.

Shari Walsh (she/her)

Shari Walsh has over 15 years of experience in higher education focusing on people management, learning and development, strengths-based approaches, and curriculum design. Throughout her career in student affairs and post-secondary teaching, Shari has worked to create learning environments that support both meaningful engagement and student success.

Shari has developed curriculum design and assessment expertise across multiple functional areas in student affairs, as well as within both college and university systems across Canada and internationally. She has been highly involved with CACUSS through leadership and facilitation roles, including serving as a Co-Chair for the Leadership Educators Community of Practice and facilitating multiple national professional development experiences.

Sara Wills McLinden (she/her)

Sara Wills McLinden has worked as an educator in academic and student affairs program design and assessment for over 14 years across colleges and universities in Canada. She currently serves as a college professor and brings extensive experience supporting the development, revision, assessment, and delivery of student learning experiences across multiple functional areas.

Sara’s work is grounded in intentional co-curricular design, strengths-based approaches, and equity-centred assessment practice. She has facilitated numerous national and international professional learning experiences and previously served as faculty for the inaugural CACUSS Canadian Assessment Institute, the Strengths Institute, and the Supervisory Institute.

Sara has also held several leadership roles within CACUSS and ACPA related to assessment and curriculum development. She continues to work as a facilitator, consultant, and speaker focused on curriculum design, assessment frameworks, and student learning.

Pre-Work

Participants will be asked to complete a short pre-Institute reflection and survey prior to the opening session. Additional information will be shared following registration.

Registration Rates

Early bird rate in effect until September 19, 2026.

CACUSS Member Rate

Early bird: $499 + applicable taxes. After 9/16: $559

Non-Member Rate

Early bird: $599 + applicable taxes. After 9/16: $659

Registration includes access to all six Institute dates and related materials.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be received in writing (via email) at least 7 days prior to the event. Refunds requested less than one week before the Institute will not be issued.

Approved cancellations will receive a refund minus a $40 administration fee.

In extenuating circumstances, registrations may be transferred to another participant with a $20 administration fee.

Whether you are new to assessment or looking to deepen your current practice, the Canadian Student Affairs Assessment Institute offers a collaborative space to explore assessment in meaningful, applied, and sustainable ways alongside colleagues from across the student affairs profession.