An important aspect of our educational program is the ongoing analysis of how well our curriculum fulfills the ideals and goals of the college's mission, educational goals, and the expected learning outcomes articulated by each department and program. Analysis based on learning outcomes plays a crucial role in assessing our programs while maintaining faculty autonomy and creativity.
As the Student Learning Outcomes team continues to work with Chairs, Directors, and Deans throughout 2019-2020 to explore the best mechanism for assessing student success within programs/departments, we will update this page.
Each year departments and programs engage in an annual assessment of their expected learning outcomes. This assessment should drive development and implementation of curricula, and completing this assessment annually can support and inform Curriculum Committee reviews. The Student Learning Outcomes (S.L.O.) team (comprising the Associate Deans and Institutional Research staff) reviews reports and can offer feedback and resources to departments and programs.
The Assessment Report, due by June 30 each year, is an opportunity to describe how your department or program evaluates actual student learning outcomes in relation to expected outcomes and incorporates your assessments into curriculum planning.
In your annual report please provide the following information:
Please note that effective, meaningful assessment of learning outcomes does not need to be burdensome. Whatever the process, establishing meaningful processes to discuss and act on data is key to the usefulness of outcomes assessment.
The S.L.O. team serves as a resource for data and information. Please feel free to reach out directly to any member of the team. They are available to support and advise about effective ways to approach this work.
Please contact Julie Nelson Christoph (jchristoph@pugetsound.edu) or any member of the S.L.O. team with questions, comments, or concerns.
Thank you for your on-going assessment work.
Julie Nelson Christoph
Martin Jackson
Sunil Kukreja
Alanna Muir
Ellen Peters