Assessment reports are used to help improve student learning and program quality in support of the university's ongoing commitment to excellence.
Core General Education Assessment Processes
Assessment of the General Education (CGER) Core evaluates how well students meet the General Education Learning Outcomes and uses the results to create continuous improvement in teaching and learning.
As assigned by department chairs or program directors, instructors teaching courses in CGER gather data on a schedule that requires that 25% of sections in a multi-section course be evaluated each year, that single section courses are evaluated at least once in a four-year cycle, and that all faculty teaching General Education courses participate in gathering data during the four-year cycle. Data is submitted to University Assessment via an electronic form (e-Form). Each year, in consultation with faculty and instructional academic staff, chairs and program directors complete a summary e-Form analyzing and drawing conclusions from all General Education data gathered in the previous academic year. Departments and programs account for their assessment and improvement of teaching and learning in CGER as part of their seven-year program review.
General Education assessment data is displayed in a Dashboard accessible to the campus community. The data is reviewed each year by the University Assessment Committee and the University Liberal Education Committee. It will be used to inform the revision of CGER rubrics and the overall review of the General Education Core.
Program Assessment Processes
To continuously improve teaching and learning, all academic programs including majors, and stand-alone minors and certificates, participate in program assessment.
This includes gathering and analyzing data on how well students are meeting learning outcomes, making and implementing plans to improve teaching and learning, and evaluating whether changes had an impact. These activities are outlined in the Program Assessment Plan. Assessment plans are updated in conjunction with a program’s seven-year program review. Each year, departments and programs submit an Annual Program Assessment Report covering the previous academic year. Programs with external accreditation or licensing obligations complete a summary report. Annual assessment reports provide supporting information in the program review process. All faculty and instructional academic staff in a unit are expected to participate in gathering data, analyzing data, discussing results, making and implementing plans for improvement, and evaluating those efforts.
Co-curricular and student support programs also develop plans for assessing student learning and/or experiences in their programs. They gather data, analyze data, make and implement plans for improvement, and evaluate the results of those plans. The plan for these activities is outlined in the Program Assessment Plan. Departments and programs submit an Annual Program Assessment Report covering the previous academic year.
All plans and reports are uploaded to the University Assessment SharePoint site, which is accessible to the campus community, and reviewed by the University Assessment Committee. Feedback is provided to academic departments and programs.
University Assessment Committee
The University Assessment Committee is a Standing Committee of the University Faculty By-laws. Representing Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and other key institutional offices, the University Assessment Committee furthers student learning through a focus on robust assessment practices.
For questions about University Assessment, contact Jason Spraitz, spraitjd@uwec.edu
