April 9: Measuring potential

Maryland's Sedlacek to speak on alternative measures of student potential

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3:46 p.m., March 31, 2015--William Sedlacek, an expert in alternative measures of student potential, will speak at the University of Delaware on Thursday, April 9, in a seminar hosted by the Center for the Study of Diversity.

The seminar begins at 9 a.m. in the Perkins Student Center Gallery. A light continental breakfast will be available at 8:30 a.m.

Events Stories

June 5: Blue Hen 5K

University of Delaware graduates planning to attend Alumni Weekend are encouraged to register for the annual Blue Hen 5K walk and run, which will be held Sunday morning, June 5.

June 6-9: Food and culture series

The 20th annual June Lecture Series at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UD in Wilmington will be held June 6-9. Titled 'June a la Carte,' this year's program focuses on great political documents, feminism, world politics and a Newark cuisine sampler.

Sedlacek, who has written on mentoring in higher education and special considerations for diverse populations, will discuss the limitations of test scores, grades and transcripts as measures of student potential and discuss why and how noncognitive measures can provide a more accurate assessment of students from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Noncognitive qualities include a student's ability to adjust, motivation and perception -- things that are valuable in all student assessments but particularly so for nontraditional students. 

Sedlacek will present alternative assessments at the seminar and explain how to measure self-concept, nontraditional leadership, long-term goals, developing a community and handling racism.

Sedlacek will lead a subsequent discussion from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

This event is free and open to the University community, but advance registration is requested. A registration form can be found at this link.  All attendees are asked to register by Tuesday, April 7. Contact Bess Davis at esdavis@udel.edu with any questions.

About the speaker

William E. Sedlacek is an emeritus professor of education at the University of Maryland, College Park. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Iowa State University and a doctorate from Kansas State University.

He is senior author of Racism in American Education: A Model for Change (with Glenwood C. Brooks Jr.). He authored Beyond the Big Test: Noncognitive Assessment in Higher Education and his latest book is Measuring Noncognitive Variables: Improving Admissions and Post Enrollment Services in Higher Education. 

He has served as editor of Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development and has consulted with more than 350 different organizations, colleges and universities on interracial and intercultural issue. 

Sedlacek has served on research advisory committees for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the College Success Foundation. 

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