Providing Evidence of Student Learning:
A Transparency Framework
Component:
Evidence of student learning includes results of assessment activities. This may include evidence of indirect (e.g. surveys) and direct (e.g. portfolio) student learning as well as institutional performance indicators (e.g. licensure pass rate). Transparent evidence of student learning is:
• Explained, analyzed, and interpreted in lay person’s language
• Contextualized to clarify what the results mean to the institution and to student learning
• Presented using both text and graphics when appropriate
• Disseminated and summarized for different groups, cohorts of students, and compared with peer institutions or programs if appropriate
• Prominently posted or linked to in multiple places across the website
• Updated regularly to reflect current results
• Receptive to feedback on the meaning and interpretation of the evidence
Institutional Examples
Augustana College
Augustana College provides a Web page tool under their general information tab to help multiple audiences assess their college options. The page, referred to as Open Book Program, includes links to performance indicators, governmental data, selected first-year, senior, and NSSE survey results, as well as alumni outcome information. The data are not linked together collectively, but are provided in a central location and tailored towards external audiences thus presenting performance indicators alongside data on student learning.
Capella University
Capella University offers an entire website dedicated to the results of student learning outcomes. Included on the website are interactive graphs, videos, and multiple reports showcasing results at the program and degree level.
St. Olaf
To enhance the use of assessment results, St Olaf has divided their reports on assessment by topic of issue as opposed to by instrument. This allows reports to include multiple measures of assessment and to help internal audiences select the report most relevant to their interests.
Truman State University
Truman State University requires all graduating students to complete a Liberal Arts Portfolio as part of a senior capstone experience. Portfolios are kept 10 years to conduct longitudinal research about the University. Institution level reports are provided on the website from 1997-2008. Results are presented in an easy to read, contextualized format.
University of Minnesota-Morris
The University of Minnesota-Morris Institutional Research page presents an eye-catching user-friendly selection of NSSE results on their main page. The main page provides textual information below the graph on the role of the institutional research office as well as a description of NSSE. Included on the main institutional research page are links to assessment of student learning and reports of the findings.
George Mason University
George Mason University has a specific portion of their Office of Assessment website dedicated to reporting the results of assessment. Results are reported by academic year and include reports with descriptions; newsletters with results; and comparison reports.
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