WSU Celebration of Assessment Excellence
The Office of the Provost, the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement, and the Office of Assessment for Curricular Effectiveness host a biennial Celebration of Assessment Excellence, honoring WSU undergraduate programs with exemplary assessment practices. Effective program-level assessment helps support quality academic programs as faculty collaboratively develop, maintain, and improve curricula that promote student learning. See below for information about programs and assessment practices recognized.
2024 Celebration of Assessment Excellence
On November 5, 2024, the Office of Assessment for Curricular Effectiveness, the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement, and the Office of the Provost will host WSU’s Celebration of Assessment Excellence 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. Please contact ACE for more information about the 2024 event.
Recognized Programs
Assessment Leadership
Nanda Grow, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Andrew Duff, Chair – Dept of Anthropology
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Information and data gathering
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty on each campus used a program rubric to assess final projects in the majors-only capstone course and, building on multiple years of assessment results, found that scaffolded assignments were key to supporting students in planning for their final projects.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, capstone instructors scaffolded the final project to include project abstracts and annotated summaries of sources due earlier in the semester to encourage students to begin acquiring resources earlier in the process, and to allow more opportunities for students to receive feedback before completing their projects.
Assessment Leadership
Yonas Demissie, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Changki Mo, Director – School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs
Assessment of Student Learning
Instructors of six senior-level courses used faculty-approved rubrics to assess student coursework (including homework, exams, labs, and projects). While overall results indicated that students were meeting expectations on this outcome, program faculty also identified areas for further improvement.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, instructors of two upper-division courses added discussions and activities around ethical and professional responsibilities, laws and regulations, and best practices and procedures in engineering design.
Assessment Leadership
Venera Arnaoudova, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Ananth Kalyanaraman, Interim Director – School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Partha Pande, Past Director – School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements
Assessment of Student Learning
Digital copies of student coursework from targeted courses, including the senior design course, were each evaluated individually by two faculty using a program rubric. While the threshold was met for this outcome, the program found variability in performance, with some junior- and senior-level students struggling with naming conventions and constructing and coding programming solutions.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, program faculty decided to establish a minimum set of requirements in all courses for working, testing, and properly documenting code.
Assessment Leadership
Robert Krikac, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Judy Theodorson, Past Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Jason Peschel, Director – School of Design and Construction
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Demonstrate evidence of collaborative design including interdisciplinary teamwork
Assessment of Student Learning
Industry professionals evaluated student portfolios using a program rubric. Program faculty reviewed these rubric scores, alongside indirect evidence from the senior exit survey and advisory board input, and found that interdisciplinary studios and industry partnerships were key to strengthening students’ collaboration skills.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Program faculty and leadership used these findings to assign resources in support of staffing interdisciplinary studios and fostering industry partnerships.
Assessment Leadership
Jolie Kaytes, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Jason Peschel, Director – School of Design and Construction
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Engage in assessment and evaluation practices throughout the entire design process
Assessment of Student Learning
Program faculty assessed senior capstone work using a program rubric and found that students’ time and project management skills were inconsistent.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, capstone studio faculty implemented a series of short, informal “Time Talks” with practitioners about approaches to time and project management, and established more mini deadlines throughout the semester, to help students sustain critical reflections about their project.
Assessment Leadership
Joseph Iannelli, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Changki Mo, Director – School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
Assessment of Student Learning
Instructors throughout the curriculum, including two senior-level capstone courses, evaluated student performance on this learning outcome using course assignments, projects, and/or exams. While results indicated that this outcome was attained at a satisfactory level, program faculty also identified areas for further improvement.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, program faculty decided to offer students open-ended study projects targeting students’ learning strategies, as well as revise selected homework assignments to include more real engineering applications in heat transfer.
Assessment Leadership
Jason Meade, Assessment Coordinator
Vicki Denson, Chair – Dept of Foundational Practice and Community-Based Care
Gail Oneal, Past Director – BSN Program
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Use professional communication skills to advocate for safe, evidence-based, high-quality patient-centered care
Assessment of Student Learning
Instructors used a vetted evaluation tool to assess students’ ability to perform head-to-toe nursing assessments on a patient (simulated interaction, as part of an upper-division course). Program faculty found that using a standardized actor as the patient (instead of a classmate) improved students’ professionalism in communicating with the patient, as well as their effectiveness in gathering critical information from the patient.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, the program will permanently use a standardized patient actor for the head-to-toe nursing assessments.
Assessment Leadership
Julie Larsen, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Glen Duncan, Chair – Dept of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Understand, interpret, and synthesize quantitative scientific evidence in nutrition and exercise physiology
Assessment of Student Learning
Program faculty assessed this learning outcome using a variety of assignments in multiple upper-division courses, including worksheets, lab write-ups, scientific presentations, and a designated topical module, and found that student struggled with research methods.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, as well as a review of the curriculum, program faculty decided to add a newly developed research methods course to provide students with foundational skills earlier in the curriculum.
2022 Celebration of Assessment Excellence
On November 8, 2022, the Office of Assessment for Curricular Effectiveness, the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement, and the Office of the Provost hosted WSU’s Celebration of Assessment Excellence to recognize good practices in assessment of learning outcomes by nine WSU undergraduate programs. 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. For more information about the event, see the 2022 event program (PDF) and blog post about the 2022 event.
Recognized Programs
Assessment Leadership
Holly Henning, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Rich Koenig, Chair – Dept of Crop and Soil Sciences
Drew Lyon, Past Chair – Dept of Crop and Soil Sciences
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Communicate scientific principles, research, and findings to diverse audiences
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty used a program rubric to assess senior papers and found that students needed additional skill development in producing genre-specific narrative structures to summarize, synthesize, and evaluate scientific, peer-reviewed literature around their own original ideas.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based in these findings, the program’s faculty learning community worked with the WSU Writing Program to design assignments that develop genre-specific skills in scientific writing and information literacy. A 200-level writing assignment was modified to introduce and provide practice on these skills earlier in the curriculum. In collaboration with the WSU Writing Program, the faculty learning community also produced a video on common narrative structures with tools to guide students.
Assessment Leadership
Armine Ghalachyan, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Ting Chi, Chair – Dept of Apparel, Merchandising, Design, and Textiles
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Demonstrate proficiency with tools of technology and industry-relevant software
Assessment of Student Learning
A rubric-based assessment of senior design collections was conducted by program faculty and industry professionals. The program also reviewed rubric-based assessment data from senior case studies, along with indirect evidence from course evaluations, student interviews, and the program’s advisory board. Results indicated a need to strengthen students’ understanding of technology integration throughout the supply chain and to provide greater access to industry-relevant software.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, the department obtained a product life cycle management software, with a second software for 3D design and virtual prototyping to follow. Instructors completed trainings to implement the software with modules and activities in multiple classes.
Assessment Leadership
Karl Olsen, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
David Pollock, Past Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Xianming Shi, Chair – Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Balasingam Muhunthan, Past Chair – Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems
Assessment of Student Learning
Student scores on the national Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam were considered alongside faculty assessments of student capstone and other 400-level coursework, and indirect evidence from the exit survey. The program found that, while student achievement on this learning outcome met faculty expectations overall, students did not perform as well as expected on the FE exam, specifically, a trend also observed in recent years.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Faculty updated the curriculum to require four 300-level fundamental courses, instead of students selecting three of the four. Additionally, the FE exam review course was eliminated, in favor of providing self-access study materials.
Assessment Leadership
Yonas Demissie, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Changki Mo, Director – School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Tri-Cities
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty-approved grading rubrics were used to assess student assignments in nine senior-level courses. The program found that improvement was needed in the students’ ability to define a design problem.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, the undergraduate studies committee decided to emphasize the concept of design in all civil engineering courses with significant design content, with additional focus in the capstone design course.
Assessment Leadership
Cameron Peace, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Stephen Ficklin, Chair – Dept of Horticulture
Doreen Main, Past Chair – Dept of Horticulture
Amit Dhingra, Past Chair – Dept of Horticulture
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Effectively communicate scientific knowledge to diverse target audiences
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty used a program rubric to score a representative sample of final papers from the senior capstone course. The program found students needed to improve their professional writing skills.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based in these findings, the faculty reviewed how writing is taught in the program and developed a substantial new assignment to introduce writing in the discipline in the 100-level foundational course, with supporting videos created in collaboration with the WSU Writing Program. The faculty plan to develop other writing assignments scaffolded across the curriculum, in conjunction with a USDA Higher Education Challenge grant proposal. The program also provided a faculty/TA workshop on assigning and grading writing.
Assessment Leadership
Anne Cox, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Judy Schultz, Past Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Kira Carbonneau, Chair – Dept of Kinesiology and Educational Psychology
Phyllis Erdman, Past Chair – Dept of Kinesiology and Educational Psychology
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Identify the central body of knowledge in kinesiology and use scientific literacy, quantitative reasoning, and discipline knowledge to analyze contemporary issues
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty and other stakeholders evaluated seniors’ capstone posters presented at the department’s student conference. Results from this assessment, along with indirect evidence from senior exit interviews, indicated that students needed more exercise testing content, a central component of kinesiology knowledge.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, the faculty decided to add an exercise testing course to the curriculum to relieve the capstone course of this content and allow the capstone to focus on other learning outcomes.
Assessment Leadership
Jolie Kaytes, Faculty Assessment Coordinator & Program Head
Jason Peschel, Director – School of Design and Construction
Ryan Smith, Past Director – School of Design and Construction
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Explore and critically analyze alternative design or planning solutions to the identified problem or question
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty evaluated final design projects and senior-level other work using a program rubric. The program found that students needed more support in exploring the design needs of their community-partner clients and in contemplating and sharing the consequences of their design ideas.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, the faculty decided to add time for students to reflect upon and evaluate their work. Faculty also decided to adjust assignments and class discussions to encourage students to question the purpose and meaning of design and to explore design programs.
Assessment Leadership
Anne Mason, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Janessa Graves, Past Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Vicki Denson, Director – RN-BSN Program
Gail Oneal, Director – BSN Program
Wendy Williams-Gilbert, Past Director – BSN Program
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Formulate nursing practice decisions using the foundation of a liberal education and evolving knowledge
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty implemented an assessment that measures student progress toward competency on the National Council Licensure Examination throughout the curriculum. The curriculum committee evaluated data from all semesters, including from seniors, along with course exam data. The program learned that students struggle with some pharmacology and medical surgical content.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, faculty provided remediation, extra practice, and learning support to students in the senior year for pharmacology and medical surgical content. The findings also guided a curricular revision, where faculty decided to level this content across three semesters instead of one.
Assessment Leadership
Michael Allen, Faculty Assessment Coordinator
Brian Saam, Chair – Dept of Physics
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Think independently and critically in acquiring, reproducing, and assessing information from a variety of sources
Assessment of Student Learning
To assess this learning outcome, faculty used a program rubric to evaluate research poster presentations in the senior thesis course. The program found that students needed improvement in communicating research information from various sources.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, the faculty decided to introduce a new one-credit prerequisite course, where students create a thesis proposal, to better prepare students to present their research in the senior thesis course.
2019 Celebration of Assessment Excellence
On November 6, 2019, the Office of Assessment of Teaching and Learning, Interim Provost Bryan Slinker, and Vice Provost Mary F. Wack hosted the second WSU Celebration of Assessment Excellence to recognize good practices in assessment of learning outcomes by 13 WSU undergraduate programs. Over the past two years, these undergraduate degree programs, as appropriate to their context, collected measures aligned with program-level student learning outcomes, engaged faculty in discussions of assessment data, and used assessment results to improve curriculum or instruction. For more information about the event, see the 2019 event program (PDF) and blog post about the 2019 event.
Recognized Programs
Assessment Leadership
Claire Latham, Director of Assessment—Carson College of Business
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Demonstrate professional, socially responsible, and ethical awareness
Assessment of Student Learning
Business Administration collected performance data from their end of program exam and rubric scores for senior capstone essays. The program found some components of case analysis skills used for this learning outcome that could be strengthened.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, program learning outcomes were revised to clarify skills for socially responsible and ethical awareness, focusing on changes to instruction, assignments, and assessment, and a 100-level course added to introduce case analysis skills.
Assessment Leadership
James Petersen, Director—Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering
David Thiessen, Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Ability to communicate effectively—focus on writing
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty assessed student writing in the senior capstone course projects (ChE 450/451) for the ABET learning outcome 3g. The program faculty identified areas for improvement in some aspects of writing technical reports.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on this assessment, faculty agreed to increase attention to report writing within the curriculum by adding assignments and providing more guidance on technical writing. In several upper division courses, faculty also agreed to increase the grade weighting for written reports.
Assessment Leadership
Kirk Peterson, Department Chair
Paul Buckley, Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Communicate effectively about chemistry in writing
Assessment of Student Learning
Written assignments in the capstone course provided evidence of student writing skills, as seniors prepared for research poster presentations. Faculty found that students needed to improve how they structured their writing to communicate to a lay audience and make better use of editing and collaboration tools.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on this assessment, changes were made to the capstone course design and assignments to include more collaborative writing tools, and additional short diagnostic assignments early in the semester.
Assessment Leadership
Ryan Smith, Director—School of Design and Construction
Jason Peschel, Program Head and Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Create construction project costs estimates
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty looked at course-embedded assignments in a 300-level course assessed with a rubric. The program found that students needed to improve their understanding of, and creation of, general conditions estimates.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these findings, faculty decided to adjust when general conditions estimates are taught in the required two-semester estimating sequence, in order to better introduce and reinforce the component skills before assessing this learning outcome.
Assessment Leadership
Jill McCluskey, Current Director—School of Economic Sciences
H. Alan Love, Past Director—School of Economic Sciences
Mark J. Gibson, Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Evaluate and apply economic concepts and quantitative methods
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty reviewed internship mentor evaluations of student performance, along with senior exit interviews and course-specific measures for core courses. The program found that students needed more preparation in the areas of mathematical modeling and economic analysis using graphs and numerical methods.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on this assessment, faculty developed a new 200-level course in applied economic modeling to better prepare students for upper-division work.
Assessment Leadership
Squeak Meisel, Department Chair
Dennis Dehart, Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Displays professionalism in the presentation of the art and him/herself, and articulates his/her own artistic production
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty assessed senior final BFA exhibitions and presentations in gallery spaces, including oral examinations, using a program rubric for all learning outcomes. Faculty found that students needed to improve their ability to communicate about their work in the exhibition setting.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on this assessment, the program introduced a series of faculty-led workshops in a 400-level course for majors, addressing artist statements and other related professional skills.
Assessment Leadership
Phyllis Erdman, Department Chair
Judy Schultz, Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Use scientific literacy, quantitative reasoning, and discipline knowledge to analyze contemporary issues; and communicate effectively
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty scored senior papers in a 400-level [M] course using a rubric, and considered related student perspectives from course evaluations and the National Survey of Student Engagement. The program found that students needed to improve in these skill areas and that related content and expectations in the 300-level [M] course varied across sections.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these assessments, faculty updated the content and assignments in the third year [M] course to standardize expectations and skills focus, to better prepare students for the 400-level [M] course.
Assessment Leadership
Ryan Smith, Director—School of Design and Construction
Jolie B. Kaytes, Program Head and Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Identify, collect, and analyze necessary information using appropriate technologies and analytical techniques related to identified problem or question
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty used a rubric to assess junior final design projects. The program found that students needed greater consistency in drawing from site inventory data they collected and analyzing it to support their final project design decisions.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on this assessment, faculty more strongly emphasized inventory and site analysis throughout the curriculum, especially in the junior year.
Assessment Leadership
Charles N. Moore, Department Chair
Dean Johnson, Assessment Coordinator
Sandy Cooper, Past Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Formulate and test conjectures and construct mathematical proofs
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty assessed senior performance in 400 level course assignments—on a combination of materials from a project and on exam questions—using a program rubric. Faculty found that students were underprepared in some aspects of these skills.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on this assessment, faculty revised the foundational third year class, Math 301, to better prepare students to apply these skills in downstream 400-level courses.
Assessment Leadership
Michael Griswold, Director—School of Molecular Biosciences
Erika Offerdahl, Assessment Coordinator
William B. Davis, Past Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Prepare written reports in standard scientific formats
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty reviewed course-embedded assessment results from a 400-level capstone course. The program found students needed more intentional scaffolding to develop communication skills across the curriculum to reach mastery level performance.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on this assessment, faculty revised the curriculum to make a 200-level introduction to scientific communication a requirement for majors. Additionally, faculty are exploring options to increase opportunities for skill development in 300-level courses.
Assessment Leadership
Glen E. Duncan, Department Chair
Jill Wagner, Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Demonstrate culturally competent written communication skills
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty used a writing rubric to assess papers in the junior and senior [M] courses from a cohort of students. The program identified academic-professional writing skills as an area for improvement.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these assessment results, faculty developed a writing toolkit to improve written communication skills, and [M] course instructors revised the writing rubric for adoption in all NEP undergraduate courses with a writing component.
Assessment Leadership
David Marcus, Department Chair
Dee Posey, Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Develop skills and knowledge relevant to pursuing career goals
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty reviewed course-embedded assessment results from a 400-level clinical course, along with senior exit survey responses. The program found that students needed more opportunities for professional growth throughout the curriculum.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on this assessment, a new 200-level course about career paths and options for graduate school was added. Additionally, 400-level teaching and research courses were modified to allow students more continuity in their professional development as teaching or research assistants across multiple terms.
Assessment Leadership
Tariq Akmal, Department Chair and Assessment Coordinator
Student Learning Outcome (SLO)
Address diversity in teaching and learning
Assessment of Student Learning
Faculty reviewed the field supervisor evaluations of student performance, rubric scores from a national portfolio assessment of performance for student teachers, and professional input from faculty. The program found students needed more support in differentiating instruction to be more culturally responsive.
Impact on Curriculum and/or Instruction
Based on these assessments, the program has provided on-going faculty and TA development around culturally responsive practices. Course assignments were also revised to focus more on culturally responsive and sustaining practices
2017 Celebration of Assessment Excellence
On November 1, 2017, the Office of Assessment of Teaching and Learning, along with Provost Daniel J. Bernardo and Vice Provosts Mary F. Wack and Erica W. Austin, hosted the inaugural WSU Celebration of Assessment Excellence to recognized undergraduate programs, departments, and schools where program-level assessment is well-established, thanks in large part to the efforts of faculty assessment coordinators, chairs and directors. The following undergraduate programs were recognized for their mature assessment systems, where meaningful measures of learning are regularly collected and faculty are involved in interpreting and using the results to refine curriculum and instruction, and the development of strong assessment practices that engage faculty in assessing student learning and in using assessment results to inform decision-making. For more information about the event, see the 2017 event program (PDF) and blog post about the 2017 event.
Programs with Exemplary Assessment Systems
Assessment Leadership by Carol Salusso & Vicki McCracken
AMDT demonstrates a sustainable assessment system that includes faculty and industry representative evaluation of senior capstone projects using a juried process, complemented by focus groups and surveys bringing in student perspectives. Faculty monitor student achievement and regularly make adjustments to curriculum and instruction, and regularly review learning outcomes and update assessment as needed.
Assessment Leadership by David Lin & James Petersen
Bioengineering brings a longstanding practice of using assessment results to inform changes to curriculum and instruction. Faculty score course-embedded assessments in capstone and other courses using rubrics. Other assessments include advisory board input, student exit surveys, and a professional skills assessment. Leadership, assessment committee, and faculty discuss assessment multiple times throughout the academic year.
Assessment Leadership by William Cofer & Balasingam Muhunthan
Civil Engineering has a strong record of using assessment results to improve courses and curriculum. Well-established assessments includes a national professional exam, senior capstone projects evaluated by faculty and advisory board members, a professional skills assessment, and assessments by faculty and lab instructors. Regular advisory board discussions and mentor surveys provide additional key feedback.
Assessment Leadership by Chris Hundhausen & Partha Pratim Pande
Computer Science applies thorough and systematic assessment planning and decision-making processes, and regularly uses results to improve curriculum. The program collects a suite of assessments, which include faculty evaluation of senior design projects and reports, a professional skills assessment, and a required senior exit survey. An advisory board also provides professional input to the program each semester.
Assessment Leadership by Vicki McCracken & H. Alan Love
Economic Sciences demonstrates a 360-degree assessment system of sustainable practices using multiple, complementary methods: faculty assess capstone projects, internship mentors evaluate student skills, and students self-assess. Faculty regularly engage in assessment, use results, and implement innovations to improve learning, such as redesigning capstone course and incorporating new course modules.
Assessment Leadership by Deborah Handy & Laura Hill
Human Development demonstrates a well-established multi-campus assessment system that includes its fully online degree. Learning outcomes-aligned complementary measures are collected at all campuses, including evaluations by faculty and internship mentors. Results are regularly shared with faculty and data are used to guide changes to courses and instruction. Faculty address performance differentials among students on different campuses.
Assessment Leadership by William B. Davis & Jonathan Jones
SMB demonstrates an active, responsive assessment system where faculty use multiple assessment measures, including adapting several national instruments to assess students at entry and exit points. The program gathers input from students, and correlates student achievement results with student demographic data. Faculty use results to improve curriculum and pilot transformative instructional approaches.
Assessment Leadership by Samantha Gizerian & Steve Simasko
Neuroscience uses a suite of measures to inform continuous improvement efforts. Well-established assessments, including senior capstone and focus groups, provide data used to improve student learning. Faculty regularly use results to make curriculum changes, including more intentionally scaffolding concepts throughout program. The program also implemented a research mentorship program based on assessment results.
Assessment Leadership by Tariq Akmal
The Teacher Education program has adapted external assessments to a local context on multiple campuses. Faculty use results from high-stakes external performance evaluation, and a suite of aligned measures across the curriculum, to guide changes to curriculum and instruction, and academic support services. The assessment team includes all faculty, advisory board, and a teacher education committee with student representatives.
Assessment Leadership by Jesse Spohnholz, Clif Stratton, & Corey Johnson
RCI & WSU Libraries partner to assess students for UCORE and to provide useful results to RCI faculty. This sustained collaboration assesses learning outcomes achievement and faculty use results to adjust instruction, assignments, and course design. This mature system of norming and rating student work has scaled up to include representative samples from all campuses, accounting for nearly 5000 students a year system-wide.
Programs with High-Quality Assessment Practices
Assessment Leadership by Desmond Layne
AFS and IPS interdisciplinary faculty collaborate to create and assess effective capstone courses with industry partners. Both programs are creating rubrics to track and measure learning development throughout the curriculum. Faculty also combine effective assessment and professional development by improving assignment design.
Assessment Leadership by Paul Buckley & Kirk Peterson
The Department of Chemistry collects American Chemical Society standardized exam data, allowing faculty to assess student performance at the beginning and end of the program, and faculty also assess senior poster presentations. Additionally, the program has a strong record of using results to inform decision-making to augment instruction and courses.
Assessment Leadership by Theresa Jordan & Steven Kale
History faculty provide assessment data from all courses and campuses as part of their teaching, giving the program a comprehensive view of student achievement. History targets one learning outcome each year, for a sustainable practice. Faculty regularly discuss performance expectations for student success, which helps faculty provide more consistent feedback to students.
Assessment Leadership by Jolie Kaytes, Steve Austin, & Gregory Kessler
Landscape Architecture faculty use several quality assessments, including junior design projects assessed by faculty and senior design projects evaluated by both faculty and an outside professional panel of jurors. In addition, assessment rubrics are modified for students to self-assess themselves – engaging them in critical reflection.
Assessment Leadership by Dee Posey & David Marcus
Psychology faculty at all campuses regularly assess student performance in core courses using a faculty-developed program rubric with strong participation by instructors. Assessment results show student development at key points in the curriculum, and faculty use these results to inform curriculum changes.