School/Department Learning Outcomes

This web page is maintained by the Office of Financial Planning, Institutional Research, and Assessment on behalf of the Vice Provost and Dean of Assessment. Financial Planning, Institutional Research, and Assessment provides administrative, statistical and professional support to the University's Student Learning Outcomes Assessment process. Financial Planning, Institutional Research, and Assessment administers the core process on behalf of the Vice Provost and Dean of Assessment, and creates and maintains the universe of assessment resources that feed into the process. The Vice Provost and Dean of Assessment updates and maintains the University's Student learning Outcomes Assessment Plan, schedules the Annual Key Assessment process driven by the plan, and is responsible for soliciting, coordinating, and reviewing materials, generated by individual academic programs which support the plan, and the Assessment process. 

As a result of two closely-related initiatives – major assessment finding reports and annual key assessment finding documents – departments' and schools' documents have been collected on a set schedule (every five years and annually). They have reviewed specific quantitative and qualitative data and then, reflected and commented on the assessment findings and implications for their programs.

• Course Evaluations

  At the end of every semester, students are invited to provide feedback on courses, classrooms and instructors through online questionnaires. In addition to soliciting responses to set questions, the questionnaires also allow for open-ended observations about perceived strengths of the course and instructor, suggestions for possible improvements, and any other comments the student might wish to make about the course.

• Course Syllabi

  Faculty members submit their syllabi to their department chairs/school deans for review and posting on our assessment website at the start of each semester.
  Syllabi include goals for student learning and the related assessments through course requirements.

• Program Goal Statements

  Formal statement of goals for student learning for each degree and certificate program at the university.  Identifies multiple measures of student learning assessment appropriate to program goals, and summarizes the steps faculty follow to implement and analyze these assessments.

  Click here for more information on Program Goal Statements.

• Rubrics

  Rubrics are used by faculty as metrics to measure student learning outcomes and to aid faculty reflection upon student learning outcomes as well as an aid in the improvement of the curriculum. A basic guide for designing rubrics is available on the Institutional Research Library website (University login required).

• Student Learning Assessment

  The Student Learning Assessment Plan focuses on current practices and future plans for the assessment of student learning outcomes from academic experiences and campus life as it complements student learning. Click to learn more on the Institutional Research Library website (University login required).

• Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Council

  The University Student Learning Assessment Council, along with its subcommittees, serves as an essential contributor to the evaluation and development of student learning assessment at the Catholic University of America. More information is available on the Institutional Research Library website (University login required)