Eight Undergraduate Programs Recognized for Assessment Practices: 2024 WSU Celebration of Assessment Excellence
On November 5th, the Office of the Provost, Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement (DAESA), and Office of Assessment for Curricular Effectiveness (ACE) hosted the 2024 WSU Celebration of Assessment Excellence, shining a spotlight on good practices in learning outcomes assessment and the efforts of program faculty, faculty assessment coordinators, chairs, and directors, representing diverse academic programs and colleges.
WSU Provost and Executive Vice President T. Chris Riley-Tillman thanked faculty for their efforts in using program assessment to continually update and improve curriculum to support student learning and remarked: “Much of the work of assessment occurs behind the scenes, but exceptional efforts come to the forefront because they contribute to high-quality undergraduate programs, facilitate successful student learning and achievement, and enhance teaching effectiveness.”
“Much of the work of assessment occurs behind the scenes, but exceptional efforts come to the forefront because they contribute to high-quality undergraduate programs, facilitate successful student learning and achievement, and enhance teaching effectiveness.”
T. Chris Riley-Tillman
WSU Provost and Executive Vice President
Building on the Provost’s acknowledgment, Vice Provost for Academic Engagement and Student Achievement William B. Davis was pleased to recognize eight programs that have used quality learning outcomes assessment to improve curriculum or instruction in their undergraduate degrees. Over the past two years, these undergraduate degree programs reported using assessment results from direct measures of program learning outcomes collected near the end of the curriculum to improve curriculum or instruction.
These programs are:
- Anthropology, BA (multiple campuses)
- Civil Engineering, BS (Tri-Cities)
- Computer Science, BS (Pullman)
- Interior Design, BA (Pullman)
- Landscape Architecture, BLA (Pullman)
- Mechanical Engineering, BS (Tri-Cities)
- Nursing, BS (multiple campuses)
- Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, BS (Spokane)
Dr. Davis noted, “We commend these programs for using assessment to help ensure that their curriculum serves students effectively and advances WSU’s land-grant mission.”
Overall, the event illuminated how effective program assessment contributes to WSU’s educational quality, student achievement, and land-grant mission in varying disciplines and over multiple campuses. With over 1,500 students currently admitted to these eight degree programs, improvements to curriculum and instruction informed by program assessment have the potential to benefit a substantial number of WSU undergraduates.
“We appreciate the work that faculty and leadership do every day at WSU to support effective program assessment,” ACE Director Lindsey Brown added.
For more information about the 2024 Celebration of Assessment Excellence at WSU and the programs recognized, see the Celebration of Assessment Excellence webpage and the 2024 event program (PDF).