Standards for Undergraduate Program Assessment Plans & Reports

 

 

    The Subcommittee on Undergraduate Program Assessment (SUPA, formerly MARS) has used Towson’s Guiding Principles for the Assessment of Student Learning to establish the following standards for reviewing assessment plans and reports.  Assessment plans and activities that meet “Best Practice” standards are described at Towson’s Top Assessment Practices.

    Key Learning Goals:
    Relevant Guiding Principles:   Key program learning goals are clear, measurable, and address thinking skills as well as content knowledge.

    __   Best Practice:   In addition to meeting the standard, as described below, key program learning goals are clearly and actively communicated to students and faculty in the program.

    __   Meets Standard: Key program learning goals meet the standards expressed in the Guiding Principles above. They describe, using action verbs, what students will be able to do upon completion of the program, especially the thinking skills they will use, the disciplinary dispositions or attitudes they will exhibit, and/or how else they will apply their knowledge and skills. 

    __   Needs Attention: Does not meet the standard described above.

    Teaching/Learning Strategies:
    Relevant Guiding Principles: Every student has sufficient opportunity to master each learning outcome.

    __   Best Practice:   Every student in the major takes multiple courses in which the learning outcome is addressed.

    __   Meets Standard: Meets the standards expressed in the Guiding Principles above: every student in the major takes at least one course in which the learning outcome is addressed.

    __   Needs Attention: Does not meet the standard described above or insufficient information is provided.

    Assessment Methods:
    Relevant Guiding Principles: Assessment methods match the learning outcome being assessed, consist of multiple measures, are varied to accommodate student backgrounds and learning styles, are used systematically over time, and yield truthful, fair information that can be used with confidence.

    __   Best Practice:   In addition to meeting the standard, as described below, at least one of the following criteria have been met: evidence is provided that (1) assessment methods provide equitable oppor­tunities for students of varied backgrounds and learning styles to demonstrate what they have learned, and/or (2) assessment methods yield truthful, fair information that can be used with confidence.

    __   Meets Standard: Assessment methods include direct evidence of student learning, and each assessment method clearly matches the learning outcome being assessed.  Multiple measures are used systematically (repeatedly, on a schedule) over time.

    __   Insufficient Information is provided to determine whether assessment methods meet the standard described above.

    __   Needs Attention: Does not meet the standard described above.

    Use of Results:
    Relevant Guiding Principles: Assessment results lead to appropriate modifications in learning outcomes, teaching methods, curriculum, and/or assessment strategies, as appropriate, and are used to demonstrate Towson’s quality, uniqueness, and needs to stakeholders and constituents.

    __   Best Practice:   In addition to meeting the standard described below, at least one of the following criteria have been met: (1) established standards clearly describe assessment performance levels considered minimally adequate for students completing the program and/or (2) positive assessment results are used to demonstrate the program’s quality, uniqueness, and/or needs to appropriate constituents.

    __   Meets Standard: Assessment results are shared and discussed with faculty teaching in the program and are used to improve learning outcomes, teaching methods, curriculum, and/or assessment strategies, as appropriate.

    __   Needs Attention: Does not meet the standard described above or insufficient information is provided.

    __   Not Applicable: This is a plan that is not yet implemented.

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    Last updated: 1.31.05

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