Associate Vice President for Planning, Assessment and Innovation
Email: pjbowers@mailbox.sc.edu
Phone: 803-777-3925
Office: Osborne 110
Pam Bowers leads efforts to develop a culture of data-based decision making, transparency of purpose, intentionally designed program delivery, and accountability for results. This is achieved by engaging unit directors and staff in annual assessment activities that focus on naming the unique role of the unit, describing the intentional design of work to produce results that achieve the unit’s purpose, examining the extent to which intended results are achieved, and using that information to guide future improvement. A new program review process builds on annual assessment activities by engaging each unit every four years in a self-study, followed by a review with an external expert team, and the development of an action plan for improvement. Bowers also leads Beyond The Classroom Matters, which contributes to institutional student data by systematically collecting records of defined student engagement in educationally purposeful activities provided by the division.
Bowers has prior experience leading institutional assessment at another large, public research university and served as a Consultant Evaluator for the Program to Evaluate and Advance Quality with the Higher Learning Commission. She has taught institutional assessment courses in the USC Higher Education in Student Affairs (HESA) master’s program, the South Carolina Community College Leadership Alliance, and in the Master of Science in Higher Education/Business Administration Program (HEBA). In service to NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, Bowers has taught a short course on assessment and improving student affairs data, presented several workshops and webinars, and co-authored a book on assessment. Additionally, she has co-authored a book chapter and written several articles for professional publications.
Bowers earned a PhD in applied behavioral studies from Oklahoma State University. Her doctoral research focused on the analysis of the relationship of employment outcomes to developmental variables and job search strategies of college graduates.