National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment |

National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment

Exploring the Landscape: What Institutional Websites Reveal About Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Activities

June 2010

Despite persistent calls for colleges and universities to post student learning outcomes assessment information to their websites, the assessment information that can be found online falls considerably short of the activities reported by chief academic officers. The study finds that institutions are often not taking full advantage of their website to increase transparency regarding student learning outcomes assessment. The researchers share their findings and offer recommendations for institutions.

Press Release

Report: "Exploring the Landscape"

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Please cite as: Jankowski, N., & Makela, J. P. (2010). Exploring the landscape: What institutional websites reveal about student learning outcomes activities. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA).

This NILOA work has been featured in a several media venues:

The Chronicle of Higher Education, What's on Your Web Site? In July 13, 2010.

Inside Higher Ed, Colleges Keep Much Assessment Activity to Themselves in July 14, 2010.

Lumina Newsletter, Accountability/ Transparency & Student Performance in July 2010. Under the blue heading, "Accountability."

Also announced in the newsletters for various organizations, such as ACE and AIR.



The NILOA Occasional Papers further the conversation about learning outcomes assessment.


"The NILOA report challenges colleges and universities to become more transparent and make sure information about student and institutional performance readily available and understandable to prospective students and their families"

Christine Keller
Director of Research and Policy Analysis
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities