Assessment Symposium 2025: Mapping Our Future
October 30, 2025 | 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Student Union Ballroom
Join the Office of Educational Effectiveness for its
fourth annual Assessment Symposium!
Ready for Round Two? Dr. Zach Justus Returns! Join us on October 30, 2025, in the SBU Union Ballroom. Buckle up your curiosity for a high-energy morning session with the engaging Dr. Zach Justus as we navigate how GenAI is reshaping not just how we teach, but what we teach. With real talk and questions that hit hard like “Are students learning what we think we’re teaching?” This is your chance to rethink your program’s true destination. Whether you're looking to pick up a few takeaways or chart a new direction entirely, this symposium is your space to explore, reflect, and act.
Check-in and breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. in order to begin our program promptly at 9:00 a.m.
Registration will remain open until October 15 or until the event reaches capacity. If closed, please contact educationaleffectiveness@stonybrook.edu to request a spot on the waitlist.
Keynote Session - Assessment in the Age of Generative AI: Disruption & Opportunity
Dr. Zach Justus will lead an interactive session that challenges us to reconsider
student learning outcomes in a world where generative AI can produce essays, code,
and visuals in seconds. Together we will explore which outcomes have been disrupted,
which are now more essential than ever, and how this moment offers a chance to realign
what we teach with what we value. Through dialogue and table activities, participants
will identify emerging opportunities to revisit PLOs, strengthen transparency, and
prepare to hear directly from students about whether they are truly learning what
we think we’re teaching.
About the Speaker
Zach Justus, PhD
Director of Faculty Development
Professor, Communication Studies
California State University, Chico
Dr. Justus is the Director of Faculty Development and a Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences
at California State University, Chico. His work can be found in Argumentation and Advocacy and Communication Teacher and other outlets. Zach was fascinated by the intersection of teaching/learning and
Generative Artificial Intelligence right away. He has collaborated to produce an Inside Higher Ed article, several webinars, an ongoing blog series, and a number of conference presentations.
Hands-On Session - From Rethinking to Rebuilding: Mapping What Matters
Dr. Justus and SBU's Catherine Scott will co-facilitate a hands-on curriculum mapping
session that shifts participants from questioning to action. Participants will explore
how program mapping creates visibility, alignment, and opportunity by showing where
and how learning outcomes are introduced, developed, and mastered. Through a guided
curriculum mapping activity, faculty will uncover gaps, redundancies, and possibilities
for greater transparency, while also considering how students engage with and reflect
on these outcomes. The session closes with a focus on next steps, equipping participants
to bring mapping back to their departments, refine PLOs, and design student-facing
tools that strengthen coherence and impact across programs.
About the Co-Facilitator
Catherine Scott, MA, MAPP
Director of Educational Effectiveness
Stony Brook University
Catherine Scott is the Director of Educational Effectiveness where she leads campus-wide assessment initiatives in measuring student learning outcomes and administrative outcomes. She supports units in planning, assessment, and accreditation functions to foster a culture of continuous improvement. Catherine provides strategic advice and consultation to faculty, staff, and leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs, projects, and activities across the university. Catherine has more than a decade of assessment experience, including a decade of service to Stony Brook University.
Student Panel Discussion
Hear from directly from students and members of the Student Assessment Council to
learn how learning objectives show up in their educational experience. More details
coming soon.