Assessment Activities for 2024-2025
1. The campus will continue to collect information on learning outcomes assessment.
- Between AY 2016-17 and AY 2017-18, all degree programs submitted learning outcomes assessment plans specifying program-level learning outcomes, program courses that addresses those learning outcomes (i.e., curriculum map), previous assessment work, and assessment questions to guide future assessment activities.
- Prior to AY 2022-23, all academic programs provided annual updates on their assessment activities in October.
- During AY 2022-23, the Council for Learning Outcomes Assessment (C-LOA) changed the reporting deadline to May 15 based on feedback from units.
- As a result of this change, all academic programs submitted abridged updates in May 2023 focusing on a review their program-level learning outcomes in the academic catalog.
- Requests for annual assessment updates are now sent early fall and are due by May 15th.
- New programs are expected to submit an assessment plan after submitting their Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) Report.
- Existing programs can submit revised assessment plans as needed.
2. The Council for Learning Outcomes Assessment (C-LOA) oversees this process.
- C-LOA was established in Spring 2016 to help facilitate the learning outcomes assessment process and to set policies.
- C-LOA created the templates for collecting assessment information and continues to revise the templates based on feedback from stakeholders.
- From AY 2015-16 through AY 2022-23, C-LOA reviewed the annual assessment update reports and provided feedback directly to programs.
- In Fall 2021, College Assessment Coordinators (CACs) were charged to assist C-LOA with the collection and review of learning outcomes assessment update reports.
- As of AY 2023-24, the initial review of annual assessment update reports now occurs within the school/college and is coordinated by the CACs
- C-LOA will continue to establish policy and provide the infrastructure and resources for the learning outcomes assessment work.
3. The campus will provide resources to assist with assessment work.
- Several workshops and brown bag sessions will take place throughout the year.
- Various resources are available to assist programs.
- Programs are encouraged to reach out to their C-LOA representative and/or College Assessment Coordinator.
- Program-level assessment liaisons (PALs) are encouraged to utilize the Learning Outcomes Assessment Community Listserv (loac-list) to engage in discussions, share resources, and/or solicit feedback from faculty and staff engaged in assessment work across campus.
- Program-level assessment liaisons (PALs) can book an Assessment Insight Chat to learn more about the learning outcomes assessment process.
4. Assessment should be meaningful and useful.
- When available or relevant, the unit should pull assessment information from other work that it is doing, such as from specialized accreditation reports, committee reports, academic program review, and IBHE program review.
- Program faculty are encouraged to generate meaningful questions about student learning in the program, identify evidence to answer the questions, and use the information to confirm the program is effectively impacting student learning or to improve the curriculum.
5. Assessment information is collected for institutional accreditation.
- The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which expects every program to collect, analyze, and evaluate learning outcomes assessment information and to use results for program improvement.
- The Office of the Provost communicates assessment processes and shares assessment reports with institutional accreditors.