This paper examines students' patterns of success in classes with high DFW rates at a research-intensive university. We investigated whether certain assignment types were associated with inequitable grade distributions for underrepresented minority (URM) and transfer students and whether assignment grade patterns were similar to final grade…

Kolb's experiential learning cycle theorizes the process of learning through a hands-on experience. Although the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education (VALUE) rubrics provide a direct measure of the qualities of this learning cycle, few indirect measures have been…

In an age of increased focus on improving the student learning experience and engaging in quality improvement processes within academic programs, higher education institutions need to clearly articulate expectations and criteria for the assessment of students' learning to support academic programs in achieving their goals. Given the need for a…

A grand challenge is a problem that requires broad cooperation for successful resolution from a community of scholars. Several national and international organizations have generated lists of grand challenges to unify the efforts of scholars and practitioners in a field. However, the field of assessment has yet to identify its own set of grand…

Oral communication is an important learning outcome in higher education that can be difficult to assess. This article presents how one institution paired an online survey of instructors with a more traditional direct assessment to conduct a comprehensive assessment of oral communication in a General Education program, illuminating both how…

Today, higher education faces increased accountability to assess and measure student learning. However, traditional metrics (like standardized tests and graduation rates) fail to provide a comprehensive understanding of exactly what students learn in a contextualized program of study. To address this gap, the researchers piloted a charrette model…

Despite persistent calls by professional organizations and leaders in the field for theory-based programs, it is often difficult for student affairs professionals to articulate why and how their programs should work (i.e., program theory). This lack of program theory influences professionals' ability to use assessment results for program…

In April 2017, a three-day Learning Improvement Summit, held in Washington, DC, brought together a broad array of national and international assessment stakeholders. The purpose of the summit was to empower a diverse group of faculty and assessment leaders to develop, refine, discuss, and address evidence-based learning improvement initiatives…

A long-standing purpose of assessment is to help faculty improve student learning; unfortunately, evidence of improved learning is rare. Learning improvement evidence in its most simple form requires practitioners to assess, intervene, and re-assess a student learning outcome. Of course, achieving evidence of learning improvement is not so simple.…

Few examples of demonstrable program learning improvement projects exist. To provide guidance for those seeking to report program learning improvement, we offer a real example of an implemented learning improvement project for a Computer Information Systems major curriculum. The example follows a six-criteria model and the subsequent standards for…

At institutions of higher education, assessment findings should inform decisions about where to target curricular improvements, course (re)design, academic support resources, and effective teaching practices. In order for the data gathered by many assessment offices or institutional researchers to have an impact on student learning, faculty…

Effective assessment practice requires clearly defining and operationalizing terminology. We illustrate the importance of this practice by focusing on academic "undermatching"--when students enroll in colleges that are less academically selective than those for which they are academically prepared. Undermatching has been viewed as a…

Written communication remains an important learning objective for colleges and universities as more and more students enter the workforce without necessary writing skills and experiences. This importance is increased for public colleges and universities within the state of Texas, as that state has adopted written communication as a core learning…

Bias is part of the human condition and becoming aware of how to avoid bias will help to ensure greater accuracy in the work of assessment. In this paper the authors discuss three different theoretical frameworks that can be applied when assessing student work for cognitive skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Each of the…

The increased pressure in higher education to demonstrate evidence of student learning is prompting all sectors to develop clear assessment methods. This national conversation has also sparked the greater recognition and use of assessment as a process for the improvement of teaching and learning. Given the scant literature on assessment in the…