TO:                              Deans, Chairs, Program Directors, and Faculty

FROM:                                    Dan Rich, Provost

SUBJECT:                 Student Learning Assessment

DATE:                                    November 30, 2005

The University of Delaware is a recognized leader in developing and practicing innovative approaches to teaching.  As a student-centered research university with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in instruction, it is now time to extend our leadership through the development and implementation of a university-wide student learning outcomes assessment program.

Most academic units already engage in assessing student learning, whether formally for accreditation purposes or informally as part of an ongoing discussion about what students know, understand, and can do with their knowledge as a result of their educational experiences.  In addition, the University has conducted extensive assessments of academic programs on an on-going basis including Academic Program Reviews and evaluations of new academic programs such as those associated with the General Education Initiative. We should build upon that experience.

The ingredients of successful learning assessment are well-known to

faculty: explicitly state expectations for students, evaluate if students are meeting expectations, and use evaluations to improve the quality of classes and academic programs.  The University of Delaware’s student learning assessment program will focus on these three ingredients, and it will engage the faculty in both the design and practice of assessment.

The UD student learning assessment program will help all academic units to define clear, concise and measurable student learning outcomes, identify opportunities within the curriculum and courses for students to achieve those outcomes, apply measures to assess whether the desired outcomes are being achieved; and use the results of assessment to improve instruction and strengthen the curriculum.  I have no doubt that student learning at UD will be enhanced when all academic units become engaged in this process.   Therefore, all units should complete and document at least one assessment cycle of 3-5 learning goals over the next few years.

The success of this program is dependent upon the participation of every academic unit.  To assist participating units, several new initiatives have been undertaken.

The Office of Educational Assessment (see http://assessment.udel.edu) provides resources and consulting to academic units engaged in the continuous process of assessing student learning and development. The Office is available to assist academic programs in formulating, collecting, and analyzing information about student learning, and can offer assistance, guidance and advice to individual units.   The Office is directed by Dr. Karen Stein and supported by Kathy Pusecker who serves as the Outcomes Analyst. We have also established the University Educational Assessment Council. The Council’s primary charge is to promote an environment that stresses the importance of educational assessment as a means of improving academic quality. We expect that the Council will make recommendations regarding institutional practices and policies related to educational assessment, and will also serve as a channel for communications among the University of Delaware academic communities. The Council is co-chaired by Michael Middaugh and Karen Stein, and members represent all Colleges, the Faculty Senate, and University offices and units that support the educational endeavors of students and faculty.   The specific responsibilities and full membership of the Council can be found at http://assessment.udel.edu/UD%20Assessment%20Initiative/council.html

This year, five academic programs are piloting a specific assessment process with the Office of Educational Assessment. The Departments of Biology, Communication, English, Psychology and the Associate Arts degree program will be working closely with the Office of Educational Assessment to document the assessment process of student learning in their individual departments.

The next initiative is the Assessment Faculty Fellows Program. The Assessment Faculty Fellows will have responsibility for coordinating, supporting and maintaining student learning outcomes assessment processes in their respective academic units, as well as sharing knowledge with colleagues across the university. Information on the application process is available at http://assessment.udel.edu/fellows.htm  and all interested faculty are encouraged to apply.

In addition, planning is underway for a series of workshops and specialized training opportunities for chairs, faculty and staff. The first of these, co-sponsored by the Office of Educational Assessment, Center for Teaching Effectiveness, Institute for Transforming Undergraduate Education, PRESENT, IT Users Services, and the Library, will take place on January 4-5, 2006, as the focus of the Winter Faculty Institute <http://www.udel.edu/present/winter/>. I invite you to join colleagues to learn, discuss and practice the elements of the outcomes assessment process: writing learning goals/outcomes statements; identifying learning opportunities; choosing appropriate assessment techniques, and using results to improve your programs. The keynote presenter will be Dr. Marilee Bresciani, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Assessment at Texas A&M University. If you are interested in participating in the workshop, please contact the Office of Educational Assessment at ud-outcomes@udel.edu.