Of the six institutional learning outcomes, one (“substantial knowledge of a field of study”) is assessed at the department/program level. The other five outcomes will be reviewed by a committee established by the Education and Curriculum Committee (ECC). Over a 10-year period, each of the five outcomes will be assessed twice.
The assessment cycle extends over two years, beginning with data collection in the year before an outcome is reviewed and ending with an ECC consideration of curricular responses.
Year before Formal Review
- The Office of the Provost and Institutional Research and Assessment office (IRA) collect data
- ECC constitutes review team (convene as reading group to enter into national discussion of the area to be studied and to review previous reports)
Summer before Formal Review
- Provost’s office and IRA finish data collection
Fall Term of the Review Year
- Provost’s Office and IRA provide team with data identified in assessment plan
- Review committee reviews data. The committee may request some additional analysis.
- Based on data, committee begins to identify salient points. Where are we strong? Where might we improve? What might we do differently to address findings?
Winter Term of the Review Year
- Committee hosts campus-wide conversation based on their tentative conclusions (presentations and discussions at LTC sessions, faculty break-out sessions, and ECC meetings).
- Based on campus feedback the review committee reconsiders its conclusions.
Spring Term of the Review Year
- Early in the term, the committee drafts report summarizing findings and making recommendations. The report is submitted to ECC.
- ECC discusses the report, revising as necessary, and formally accepts it.
Subsequent Terms
- ECC determines how to proceed with recommendations made in the report.