The most effective assessment work does more than measure progress. It reveals what is working, identifies where change is needed, and helps a university turn evidence into a better experience for its students. That work at UConn has now earned international recognition.

Kaitlyn Anderson, of the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, and Sally Chamberland, of the Office of Academic Program Assessment, have received a 2026 Blackboard Catalyst Award in the Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness category.

Presented annually by Blackboard, the Catalyst Awards recognize institutions and individuals around the world that are using technology to drive meaningful change in teaching, learning, accessibility, engagement, and institutional success. Anderson and Chamberland were recognized for their outstanding contributions to education and for helping strengthen UConn’s assessment practices through the use of Blackboard’s Institutional Effectiveness solutions.

The work grew from a practical challenge: how to assess career readiness at scale without asking students and faculty to navigate another platform. In summer 2025, the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills partnered with the Office of Academic Program Assessment to build assessment tools created by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) directly into Blackboard. Faculty and staff have access to embed a student self-assessment and a faculty rubric that allow career readiness to be measured from both perspectives. Students complete the self-assessment before and after courses that intentionally incorporate career preparation, giving faculty a clearer picture of how students’ confidence and skills develop over the semester.

The approach quickly expanded beyond a small pilot. In fall 2025, nine instructors used the Blackboard assessment in 10 undergraduate and graduate courses, reaching 839 students. The broader Career Readiness Fellows initiative has now brought career-readiness instruction into dozens of courses across a wide range of disciplines and course levels. Early findings are promising with post-course results showing more students rating themselves at the higher levels of career-readiness competencies.

“It is through innovative initiative such as this one that the Center for Career Readiness brings faculty and staff together, under the broad umbrella of Career Everywhere, to strengthen connections and better support the needs of our students as they prepare for their lives beyond UConn”, commented Jim Lowe, associate vice president for operations and workforce strategy. By keeping the assessment inside a system faculty and students already use, Anderson and Chamberland have made the process easier to complete, more useful to instructors, and capable of growing across the University.

Anderson and Chamberland’s work demonstrates that meaningful institutional change often begins behind the scenes with carefully framed questions, reliable information, and colleagues willing to examine what the evidence says and act on it.

“Our students are building skills in the classroom that will serve them throughout their careers. Equally important is their ability to recognize and talk about those skills,” says Provost Pamir Alpay. “Kaitlyn and Sally have found a smart way to support both, and I’m thrilled to see their efforts be recognized with this honor.”

Blackboard has presented the Catalyst Awards since 2005, honoring innovation and excellence across its global community of educators and learners. Winners are selected by a cross-functional team of Blackboard experts and represent what the company describes as the creativity, dedication, and vision shaping the future of education worldwide.

The 2026 recipients were recognized during an awards ceremony at Building Blackboard Together 2026, held July 13-15. UConn was among a select group of institutions recognized internationally.