Academic program assessment is an ongoing activity through which student learning is evaluated in relation to Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs).
91视频鈥檚 requires all academic programs, curricular and co-curricular to create an updated assessment plan, annually assess at least one of their PLOs, create a schedule to ensure that all PLOs are assessed at least once during a five-year Program Review cycle, and report annually on PLO assessment and continuous improvement efforts.
Academic unit, curricular and co-curricular assessment: The systematic collection and analysis of data to ensure that academic units鈥 learning outcomes align with the University mission, vision, and core values as expressed by the Institutional Learning Outcomes. Academic unit, curricular and co-curricular assessment aids to demonstrate effectiveness at achieving learning outcomes and provides a foundation for continuous improvement.
Assessment Plans and Activities:
Academic units, curricular and co-curricular programs including General Education (GE) engage in ongoing development of clear assessment plans that include a plan for assessing each learning outcome.
Plans should:
- Define unit or program learning outcomes consistent with the mission of
the university, the unit鈥檚 goals and values, and the standards of the unit/program. - Detail methodologies for assessment, and timelines for evaluation.
- Include direct assessment of student learning experience, based on activities and assignments directly produced by the student over the course of the learning experience. These activities and assignments will reflect the approaches of the discipline. Examples include but are not limited to: course embedded work, pre/post testing, licensure examinations, performances and exhibitions, and portfolios of student work. Plans may also include indirect assessment of the student learning experience, such as surveys and focus groups.
Assessment plans and action items can be accessed on the CI Public Drive, by going to the Curriculum Folder and clicking on the Program Review Folder. Documents are organized by Program and Year of Review.
Units/programs are required to work continually on assessment of learning outcomes.
Assessment plans should include an outline of which learning outcomes a unit/program plans to assess each year and all learning outcomes need to be assessed during the five-year review cycle.
Annual Assessment Report:
Units are required to submit a brief (1-2 page) annual assessment
report to the Continuous Improvement Committee by the end of October for assessment conducted
during the previous academic year.
This report needs to describe the
- program assessment plan,
- methods and results of assessment of at least one Program Learning Outcome, and
- teaching, curricular, and/or program changes made based on the assessment results.
Who needs to do assessment?
While we encourage all units to engage in assessment for continuous improvement, this policy covers academic units, curricular and co-curricular.
Academic programs are structured sets of courses and learning experiences that lead to a recognized degree. Departments may include multiple academic programs and some programs within a department may be assessed and undergo Program Review separately (for example, Computer Science offers two distinct degrees in Computer Science and Information Technology that are assessed separately).
Co-curricular activities are defined by the Western States College and University Commission (WSCUC) as 鈥渓earning experiences that supplement the formal curriculum, providing opportunities for student engagement and development outside of traditional classroom instruction. These activities are designed to enhance student learning and engagement, aligning with curricular and career goals.鈥 Examples at 91视频 include the Writing and Multiliteracy Center, Learning Resource Center, and Learning Communities.