University of Tasmania, Australia

Dr Sara Booth

Head, Student Evaluation, Review and Reporting Unit (SERRU)

Contact Details

Contact Campus	Newnham Campus
Building	Student Centre, Level 2
Room Reference	Y-253
Telephone	+61 3 63243587
Email	Sara.Booth@utas.edu.au

Publications

Booth, S., Saunders, C. & Yang, Y. (2012). Embedding a robust evaluative culture through policy review. Australasian Higher Education Evaluation Forum (in press).

James, R.J., Baik, C., Kennedy, G., Bexley, E., Hughes-Warrington, M., Krause, K-L., Sadler, D., & Booth, S. (2012). Academic workforce 2020: Framing a national agenda for professionalising university teaching. Successful OLT Strategic Project.

Booth, S. & Frappell, P. (2011, 29 June-1 July). Evaluation criteria and evidence for a self review of higher degree research. Paper presented at the Australian Universities Quality Forum: Demonstrating Quality Conference, Melbourne. Paper (PDF 143.0KB) Presentation (PDF 556.5KB)

Booth, S., Melano, A., Sainsbury, H., & Woodley, L. (2011, 29 June-1 July). Articulating and comparing standards through benchmarking of assessment. Paper presented at the Australian Universities Quality Forum: Demonstrating Quality Conference, Melbourne. Paper (PDF 274.2KB) Presentation (PDF 117.6KB)

Biography:

Dr Sara Booth has a background in learning and teaching, originally based in the Faculty of Education, at the University of Tasmania (UTAS). She began her university teaching career in 2004 and was awarded a Faculty Mentoring Award (2005), an Early Career Researcher Award (2007), and a UTAS Teaching Excellence Award (2007). In 2008, she obtained a UTAS Teaching and Learning Fellowship which investigated the leadership role and responsibilities of course coordinators at UTAS. From 2008-2009, she was course coordinator of the Bachelor of Teaching Program and the University Preparation Program (UPP), which involved establishing UPP on three campuses. From 2009-2011 she led and coordinated three institutional-wide benchmarking projects for UTAS which included formal benchmarking partnerships with the universities of Wollongong (UOW) and Deakin. In 2011-2012 she facilitated the involvement of UTAS in two Australian academic standards projects (Teaching Standards Project and the ALTC Inter-university Moderation Project). She also led the testing and coordination of an institutional wide project on UTAS Academic Standards during 2012.

In 2012, the Student Evaluation, Review and Reporting Unit (SERRU) was created to provide institutional and strategic support to the University on data priorities, needs and projects. Sara's expertise is in project management, standards and benchmarking at the institutional level and her role within SERRU encompasses establishing strategic relationships with a range of stakeholders (internally, nationally and internationally) to build strategic, research partnerships for the University. She provides policy advice and support to the Senior Executive and University committees on a range of institutional strategic priorities such as learning and teaching performance, promotions, academic standards, quality, benchmarking and the reporting of institutional data.

Research Interests:

Sara's research interests are in the areas of student evaluation, standards, benchmarking, reviews and survey design. One of the goals of SERRU is to assist staff at the University in applying for grants and funding for improving learning and teaching and the support for students at the University. Sara is presently working on a number of research projects in standards and benchmarking for the University, the outcomes of which will assist in achieving this goal.

Benchmarking Projects and Roles:

• Promotions Benchmarking Project with the universities of UTAS, Wollongong (UOW), Leicester (UK), Newcastle(UK) as Project Coordinator
• Higher Degree Benchmarking Project with the universities of UTAS, UOW and Deakin-UTAS as Project Coordinator
• Orientation Benchmarking Project as Research Analyst

Business Intelligence Projects and Roles:

• Design and coordination of the new Learning and Teaching Dashboard for UTAS as Project Coordinator and Sponsor for Professor David Sadler, DVC (Students and Education)

Review Projects and Roles:

• SETL Review Project (March-July, 2012)-Project Coordinator

Standards Projects and Roles:

• UTAS Academic Standards Project with the Faculty of Health Science and the Cradle Coast Campus as Project Coordinator
• ALTC Inter-university Moderation Project, UTAS as Project Coordinator: Paper
• Teaching Standards Project, UTAS as Project Coordinator: Paper

Policies and Reports:

Booth, S. (2012). UTAS response to the Australian Graduate Survey

Booth, S. (2012). UTAS response to the development of performance measurement instruments in higher education.

Booth, S. (2011). Strategic directions discussion paper: Entrepreneurship, community engagement and internationalisation

Booth, S. (2011). UTAS response to the draft qualification standards

Booth, S. (2011). UTAS response to TEQSA's discussion paper-Learning and teaching standards

Booth, S. (2011). UTAS response to the University Experience Survey (UES)

Booth, S. (2011). Benchmarking policy and benchmarking procedure.

Booth, S. (2011). Development and implementation of a UTAS information and knowledge management strategy and institutional data warehouse: Discussion paper

Rich, D., Booth, S., Rodrigues, J., & Smith, M. (2011). Space management policy and space management guidelines.

Booth, S. (2010). Draft UTAS academic standards framework.

Booth, S. (2010). Final report on assessment benchmarking (UTAS, Deakin and UOW)

Frappell, P., Booth, S., & Reardon, G. (2010). Self review of higher degree research report

Booth, S. (2010). Academic senate and academic standards paper

Booth, S. (2010). Institutional self-assessment: UTAS assessment benchmarking report

Booth, S. (2010). Individual reports for self-assessment workshop (Arts, AMC, Business, Education, Health Science, Law and SET) (Faculties)

Booth, S. (2010). Rationale for benchmarking and academic standards at UTAS

Walker, J. & Booth, S. (2010). Culture and communications: Your Voice final report

Booth, S. (2009). Trial benchmarking project on academic transition support between the University of Tasmania and the University of Wollongong: Final report

Booth, S. (2009). UPP progress report

Lines, R. & Booth, S. (2008). Review of BTeach Program and BTeach Honours