Student Success Assessment Overview
What is assessment?
Assessment is any effort to gather, analyze, review, and use evidence and information regarding the effectiveness of programs, with the purpose of improving student learning and development. (mix of multiple definitions)
Assessment is making data/evidence driven decisions rather than on instinct or intuition.
Purpose
Assessment gives us the opportunity to determine how well our programs, opportunities, and services are meeting the needs of our students as well as the overall goals of our institution. In addition, it helps us tell our story by gathering the "evidence" that our programs are working in the way we intended for student success and aligning with institutional priorities.
- Define what we expect our students to learn (knowledge and application outcomes) – GOALS
- Assess if knowledge and application outcomes are being achieved – INFORMATION
- Respond to assessment and integrate results toward continued quality improvements - ACTIONS
Is the program intended to:
- Increase student knowledge?
- Improve a student's ability to execute a speicific behavior?
- Change student attitudes?
- Facilitate a student's reflection on a topic?
Assessment of student learning is governed by the Student Outcomes Assessment Policy and directed by the Student Success Advisory Committee on Budget and Assessment (BAAC).
The Process of Assessing Student Knowledge and Application Outcomes
- Identify Learning Outcomes: Determing what students should know, think, and be able to do as a result of a program or service.
- Gather Evidence: Creating opportunities for students to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Interpret Evidence: Drawing conculsions based on students' performance
- Implement Change: Using conclusions to modify the program or service.
Assessment Report Templates
All undergraduate programs at Montana State University will submit a report on the previous year's assessment activities annually.
