HLC Assessment Academy
From 2010-2014, Northeastern State University took part in the Higher Learning Commission's Assessment Academy. Two projects were proposed:
- To assess the efficacy of NSU's new General Education curriculum
- Review student learning assessment at the course and program levels
Project one entailed collaborative efforts with the Academy team, administration,
the General Education Committee and the Student Learning and Assessment Committee,
and student learning coordinators in each college. Results suggested that the current
ETS Proficiency Profile was not closely aligned with General Education outcomes; hence,
there was a need to develop rubrics to assess general education outcomes as course-embedded
assessments and a need to modify the GE capstone course.
Project two revealed that course and program assessment was compartmentalized by course
or major, making it difficult to synthesize those data in terms of institutional,
degree outcomes. The institution implemented an enhanced focus on assessment professional
development through the Center for Teaching and Learning as well as adoption of the
Degrees of Excellence outcomes to better articulate the knowledge and skills students
gain through earning a baccalaureate degree at NSU. These degree outcomes include
engaging intellectual skills including critical inquiry, diverse perspectives, quantitative
reasoning, and communication fluency; demonstrating integrative knowledge; attaining
specialized knowledge in the major; completing a capstone or culminating experience
that requires integration of degree expectations with career or post-baccalaureate
settings; and citizenship experiences that emphasize leadership and engagement.
Working from these projects, the institution has progressed in its implementation
of assessment techniques to measure student learning, modify curricula and student
experiences, and use data to inform decisions across the institution.