Internship Testimonials
Meet the OSPIE Interns
Previous OSPIE Interns
Moses Desmennu
Doctoral Student, Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, College of Education
Volunteering at OSPIE was for me a remarkable experience as it offered me opportunities to make little step differences in the operations of the University of Kentucky. During my internship at OSPIE, I was assigned to develop the "Provost standard procedures on specialized accreditation requests", SACSCOC Standard 11 on Library resources in preparation for the Reaffirmation Report due in Fall 2022 and the PSLO Assessment. The high points are the regular weekly meetings of interns with Mike and John-Eric which were laden with varied learning experiences ranging from regular studentship in UK, discipline-based exposure to research methodologies and career development post -studentship. Of note is the warm work environment that prod you to want to do more that characterizes OSPIE. It’s a place you aspire to work with.
Samer Jan
Doctoral Student, Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, College of Education
My summer internship involved looking closely at various standards that UK needs to meet for the upcoming SACS Fall 2022 comprehensive review. Among the standards that I worked on under the supervision of the Director of Institutional Effectiveness Dr. Mike Rudolph were: Standard 12.6 Student Debt, Standard 9.4 Institutional Credits for Undergraduate Degrees, Standard 9.5 Institutional Credits for Graduate/Professional Degrees, 9.7 Program Requirements and 10.8 Evaluating and Awarding Academic Credit. Working on these standards allowed me the opportunity to meet with various UK administrators and personnel. My work also included reviewing and providing feedback for a number of program assessment plans.
My internship was a rewarding and enriching experience. The work I encountered at OSPIE provided me with practical hands on experience on SACS accreditation. Students interested in assessment and accreditation or those planning to work in higher education with particular interest in assessment and evaluation would benefit from the practical experience OSPIE internship offers.
Andrea Perkins
Director of Assessment and Accreditation, College of Public Health
Doctoral Student, Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, College of Education
During my internship experience over the summer, I was able to get a "behind the scenes" view of what the assessment world consists of at the University level. This was a great experience and just deepened my desire to work with assessment on a higher level. While working with OSPIE, I felt complete ownership of the projects I was assigned to and felt my contributions were valued and will be used after the internship is completed. Overall this was a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the assessment process and procedures at the University level.
Sativa Thompson
First Grade Teacher, Paris Elementary School, Paris Independent Schools (KY)
Masters Student, Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, College of Education
I had an excellent time working with the OSPIE office. I was able to start on a project collecting and analyzing qualitative data regarding the PSLO reporting process at the University. I was given very helpful feedback and guidance throughout the project that further developed my understanding of qualitative methods, thematic analysis, and interview design. As well, I was able to work on PSLO reviews providing feedback to departments regarding student learning outcomes and assessments. Being able to apply the knowledge I gained in my courses to do something meaningful for the University was a wonderful experience. I know that the experiences I had interning for OSPIE will help advance my career, as I have gained both helpful guidance in applying what I have learned and professional connections to some wonderful individuals. I would highly recommend pursuing an internship for others interested in assessment and educational research!