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Higher Learning Commission. (September 2019). Providing Evidence for the Criteria for Accreditation.
Evidence for Accreditation Resource (2019 PDF).
Neuschel, K., & Rego, M. (2018). Assessment: What is it good for? (for faculty, it turns out). Liberal Education, Summer 2018.
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The National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (February 2011). Transparency Framework. NILOA Transparency Framework .
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Online Assessment Resourcesundefined
Assessment at Marquette
Assessment Commons: Internet Resources for Higher Education Outcomes Assessment
Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE)
Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
Cleveland State University Assessment in General Education
East Carolina University - Institutional Planning, Assessment and Research
Higher Learning Commission
National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA)
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
Sampling for the Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
UIPUI: Assessment Institute
University of Central Florida Assessment
University of Kansas Degree-Level Assessment Guide
University of Nebraska - Lincoln Assessment Program Management
University of Wisconsin-Madison: Student Learning Assessment
University of Wisconsin-Madison: Program Assessment Plans Folder
Washington State University Graduate Program Assessment
Glossary of Terms
Assessment: A systematic process of research and evidence gathering aimed at understanding and improving student learning in relation to institutional, program, and course goals and outcomes.
Assessment Plan: A faculty driven framework that helps to inquire about student learning, which uses both direct and indirect evidence to support any changes to goals and program learning outcomes.
Benchmarks: Predefined standards to objectively measure the quality of learning outcomes; essential to continuous quality improvement and help to overcome complacency and establish what level of performance for a program outcome is acceptable for a program graduate.
Curriculum Map: A visual representation of the course of study that shows in which courses each learning outcome is introduced or reinforced, and in which courses students will demonstrate mastery.
Degree Program Assessment: The systematic process of research and evidence gathering aimed at understanding student learning and experience in relation to a program’s goals,initiatives, and outcomes. Includes both learning outcomes assessment and other program evaluation measures.
Evidence: Materials gathered to analyze learning outcomes; can take the form of direct or indirect.
Direct Evidence: Evidence gathered by evaluating student work (artifacts or performances) in light of learning outcomes. Direct evidence is usually quantitative but can also be qualitative (e.g, collected faculty comments evaluating student artifacts in relation to an outcome).
Indirect Evidence: Evidence of learning gathered by evaluating student perceptions of their learning or experience. Indirect evidence can include interviews, surveys, focus groups, self-reports, or student reflections. Indirect evidence can be quantitative (e.g., likert scale questions from a survey) or qualitative (written responses to open-ended questions, interviews).
Learning Outcomes Assessment: Assessment focused on measuring student learning in relation to program goals and outcomes. Focuses on improving student learning.
Program Assessment: The systematic process of research and evidence gathering aimed at understanding student learning and experience in relation to a program’s goals, 68 initiatives, and outcomes. Includes both learning outcomes assessment and other program evaluation measures.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs): A measurable expectations of student learning, curriculum, and teaching that can be assessed to inform faculty, departments, institutions, and students about what to expect from a program
Rubric: A form that guides faculty in scoring or evaluating student work or performances in relation to learning outcomes. Rubrics help make expectations clear to students, contribute to consistency and fairness in evaluation, and facilitate gathering program assessment data.
Targets: Set a percent of students that should be achieving these benchmarks for the program to consider itself a success in completing the program learning outcomes.
