Outcomes Assessment

The faculty and staff of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are committed to assessment practices that advance student success and support continuous improvement across our academic programs. As a college with nearly fifty majors spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and computational disciplines, our assessment efforts focus on program-level learning outcomes. With guidance from the College Outcomes Committee, each department implements its established assessment plan to ensure systematic, ongoing improvement. Programs also evaluate how their outcomes align with university-wide learning goals.

Assessment is an integral component of the Board of Regents–mandated program review process. Each academic program undergoes a comprehensive external review every seven years followed by an internal review at the mid-point between the external reviews. The assessment process and curricular improvements are key features of the self-study, review team report and midcycle review. Outcomes assessment complements other key indicators of student success, including retention and career placement.

College Outcomes Committee

Established in 2016, the College Outcomes Committee supports continuous improvement in course- and program-level assessment across the college. The committee provides guidance on learning outcomes, assessment plans, and assessment practices. Its early work focused on course-level assessment in large-enrollment classes; since 2021, it has prioritized program-level assessment. The committee regularly offers professional development workshops and consults with departments to strengthen curriculum mapping, assessment plan development, and efforts to use assessment results to improve our courses and curricula.

Assessment resources for programs

Faculty resources supporting assessment efforts in the college are available through shared documents.  LAS assessment workshop slides and resources  help faculty develop and refine learning outcomes, curriculum maps, and assessment plans. The LAS assessment plan template provides a structured framework for program-level assessment. Each program has shared their curriculum map and their assessment plan  with the college creating a rich resource for programs seeking to improve their processes and the impact of their efforts. Programs are encouraged to incorporate these direct measures of the effectiveness alongside indirect measures such as alumni surveys and placement data for each program.

Faculty are also encouraged to explore the resources offered by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to enhance teaching and learning practices.