1. Chalk & Wire Pre-Deployment—Discovery Deliverables
A Unique Recipe for Success
Thank you for considering Chalk & Wire to be the
provider of your Assessment Platform. By this time
you have no doubt reviewed a number of companies,
seen demonstrations and checked references. Now
that you know more about what’s available, you are
likely working out how you will implement such tools
on your campus. Undoubtedly, you have questions
and some uncertainty.
To put your mind at ease, we are pleased to provide this
document that outlines our distinct, personalized
approach to successful implementation as well as a
separate overview describing the benefits to students
using Chalk & Wire. As you come to know our company
you will realize that as educators, focusing on students
is not just a marketing ploy, it is a core value.
Regardless of the size or profile of your institution, the
most important next step is to engage stakeholders in a
process of proactive discovery. The goal is to determine
how Chalk & Wire’s accomplished staff, exceptional
services and innovative tools will enhance your current
assessment culture and allow you to guide how it
matures. In our long experience, nothing “canned” or
“one size fits all” will do. One academic leader we
interviewed in 2013 put it well in this statement about
the need for a flexible and accurate ‘fit’:
Chalk & Wire is a fully integrated Assessment Platform
designed to serve an entire campus while managing
multiple, diverse, assessment plans with one flexible
system. The aim, therefore, must be to clarify the way
you will use our tools in varying campus contexts to
achieve your assessment and institutional strategic
planning goals.
It’s difficult to manage
assessment across a group of
diverse disciplines. When
someone brings you a cookie
cutter, but the dough isn’t
adapted to that, you have a
tremendous challenge.

2. Through hundreds of deployments at schools on three continents, incorporating a wide
variety of use-case scenarios, one thing has been crystal clear—every institution is unique
with its own personality and culture. Prior to the introduction of an assessment system,
these differences must be researched and a customized plan developed.
This is part of the Chalk & Wire difference …
This tool was developed and tested by Chalk & Wire after a year of intensive interviews with
VPAAs, Provosts, Deans and third party consultants. It will help to frame discussions during and
after the Discovery Phase. This analysis tool, combined with meetings as required, will assist our
team in developing the following deliverables, customized to your unique situation and goals:
An Engagement Lead is assigned to you:
This highly experienced Chalk & Wire consultant will be
your main point of contact especially during the period
prior to deployment. After deployment you will also
have at your disposal our entire support team who
will work with you every step of the way as your
assessment culture develops.
Pre-deployment Virtual Meetings:
The Engagement Lead facilitates meetings to gather
information about current assessment assets and
critical protocols. They will explore how assessment is
currently positioned on your campus. This phase takes
approximately two meetings and includes an exchange
of emails and materials.
The Year One Action Plan
A clear, concise, step-by-step approach, based on
evidence that will mesh with the proposed use-case
scenarios and your current assessment culture.
The Action Plan will pinpoint exactly who at Chalk & Wire
will be doing what to assist you along the way.
It will also identify local responsibility centers. It will
lay out events and timing. This is especially critical if
you intend to make use of our extensive enterprise
system integration solutions with your local learning
management system (LMS), student information system
(SIS) and other local databases. This pillar of our work
streamlines workflows, reduces labor, and can optimize
the use of local assessment and technology resources.
Some institutions go so far as to embed Chalk & Wire
such that we become transparent or even invisible to
faculty and students.
Training Plans
We develop and present detailed plans for rollout and
the training of faculty and students, aimed at achieving
your objectives over the first year. When the time
comes, our support staff will provide you with
customizable manuals so that you can include screen
shots accurate to your use-case scenarios.
Pre-deployment Orientation and
Activities Material Package
This will consist of some or all of the following support
materials tailored to your needs, and developed upon
your approval:
• Customizable templates for ‘Welcome letters’,
memoranda, and other communications to faculty
and students from academic leaders, as well as
website additions
The Discovery Phase: A Unique Chalk & Wire Process
The ❝C&W Assessment Culture Analysis Tool™
❞

3. • Ready-to-use insertions for course syllabi for each
program
• Statements and materials to help faculty explain
Chalk & Wire’s intended use to their students
(handouts, PowerPoint™
slide decks branded to your
institution)
• Agenda and materials for orientation meetings
including ePortfolio samples, rubrics and reports
An on-site training visit agenda
A two-day visit will be conducted to train key personnel
in all they will need to know about
Chalk & Wire to enable you to reach your goals.
Monthly follow-up contacts
Your Engagement Lead will communicate with you at
least monthly. You are encouraged to call us at any time.
The Fifteen-minute Rule
This is all the time you get to not know what to do next.
It does not matter if it is software related or procedural.
We have a team of help and assessment system design
specialists working seven days a week who are keen to
serve and support you. Their toll free number is
1-866-949-6800 ext 1. There is also a live text-chat
feature and support request forms on every screen.
Emailing support@chalkandwire.com will automatically
create a ticket in our support system (ZenDesk™
) and
immediately send you an acknowledgement message.
This ticket system allows both you and our team to
track your request from start to resolution.
Your SAR™ (System Analysis Report)
Once a year, upon request, Chalk & Wire will review
your system design and data for validity threats.
Strengths of the system and suggestions for action will
be provided. This is an in depth look at your assessment
efforts from a validity perspective. Usually 15-25 pages
in length, it is prepared by a Chalk & Wire consultant
who specializes in this area of research. This report
often becomes a touchstone for the next, natural phase
of the development of your assessment system design
and culture. It also can provide compelling narrative
elements for accreditation and internal planning
documents as regards to assessment.
We thank you again for your consideration of the
Chalk & Wire Assessment Platform and our unique,
tested approach to a successful implementation.
I welcome your comments and questions at any time.
Sincerely,
Geoff Irvine
CEO, Chalk & Wire
Higher Education Assessment Solutions
T. 1-877-252-2201 ext. 21
E. geoff@chalkandwire.com
www.chalkandwire.com