Related Pages
- Program Assessment Overview
- Program Assessment Glossary
- Detailed Program Assessment Guide
- Step 1: Articulate Program Mission & Goals
- Step 2: Identify Specific Program Outcomes
- Step 3: Crosswalk the Curriculum & Identify Signature Assignments
- Step 4: Identify & Gather Evidence & Interpret Results
- Step 5: Recommend Actions
- VTSU Program Assessment Sharepoint Repository
The information on this page complements information on the VTSU Program Assessment Sharepoint site [login required], including PReCIP cycle years, form templates, example forms, submission form, etc.
- Know the content of the VTSU Program Assessment Sharepoint Repository
- Attend trainings
- Schedule meetings
- Become proficient with Watermark Planning & Self Study, as programs are onboarded to this software.
- Identify/create file structure (recommended: Teams/Sharepoint) for internal program assessment documents, workbooks, shared folders, etc.
- Ensure all faculty in the program have access to internal program assessment materials
- Keep the annual assessment work on track through regular reminders to program colleagues
- Submit required documents for VTSU Annual Program Assessment & 5-year PReCIP Program Review on time
Program Meetings
- TBA
Department Meetings (work with Chair to reserve time for Program Assessment work)
- TBA
Collaborate with another small program, perhaps within your department, “so that you work together on as many steps as possible, including steps like designing a rubric, applying the rubric to student work, and discussing what the results are telling you” (Massa & Kasimatis, 2017, p. 44).
Massa, L. J., & Kasimatis, M. (2017). Meaningful and manageable program assessment : A how-to guide for higher education faculty. Routledge.
| Documents | Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Year Four | Year Five |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum and Learning Outcomes Crosswalk (due Jan 1) | x | x | |||
| Program Outcomes Assessment Matrix (due Jan 1) | x | ||||
| Annual Learning Outcome Assessment Report (due June 1) | x | x | x | x | |
| Degree Program Map and Milestones (due June 1) | x | x | x | x | |
| Program Review & Continuous Improvement Process (PReCIP) Report (due June 1) | x |
August
- Programs select an Assessment Lead
September
- Assessment Leads attend consultations, as needed, based on lessons learned and questions from the previous year(s) (e.g., with the CTLI, with Institutional Research, with their Dean, etc.)
- Assessment Lead develops a schedule of meetings and put them on calendars (see above for dates – coordinate with Department Chair for length of time during department meetings)
- September Program Meeting
- Review forms due this year
- Program identifies which Program Outcome will be assessed this year (and prioritize sequencing of outcomes for the next 5 years)
- For programs on an abbreviated cycle between 2024-25 to 2027-28, there is the option to assess one program outcome per year, with an understanding that this is the only cycle (because it’s abbreviated) when all outcomes may not be assessed
- For programs in a full 5-year cycle, all outcomes need to be assessed within that 5-year period. If a program has more than 5 outcomes, two options exist: (1) Simplify/revise to reduce the Program Outcomes or (2) Assess more than one per year (e.g., 10 Outcomes, assess 2 per year to finish within 5 years)
- Create an Assessment Plan (key steps, key deliverables, schedule, etc.) and share with all faculty teaching in the program (template is the 1st worksheet in the Program Assessment Workbook; example is the 2nd worksheet)
October
- Select the evidence: Direct & Indirect Measures and add to/update crosswalk
November
- Develop appropriate rubric(s) (template is the 3rd worksheet in the Program Assessment Workbook; examples are the 4th and 5th worksheets)
- Develop indirect measurement instruments
December
- Collect the evidence
- Prepare Forms Due January 1
January
- Submit Forms Due by January 1:
- Curriculum & Learning Outcomes Crosswalk (Years 2 and 4)
- Program Outcomes Assessment Matrix (Year 3)
- Update assessment plan for spring semester (template is the 1st worksheet in the Program Assessment Workbook; example is the 2nd worksheet)
February
- Score the direct evidence collected in the Fall using rubrics developed in November (template is the 3rd worksheet in the Program Assessment Workbook; examples are the 4th and 5th worksheets)
- Collate the Fall indirect evidence
March
- Analyze the Fall evidence, both direct and indirect (rubric summary table is the 6th worksheet in the Program Assessment Workbook; example is on the 7th worksheet; frequencies table/graph is on the 8th worksheet; example is on the 9th worksheet)
- Create/add to the improvement implementation plan for changes (implementation plan is on the 10th worksheet in the Program Assessment Workbook; example is on the 11th worksheet)
April
- Collect the Spring evidence
- Score the Spring direct evidence using rubrics developed in November (template is the 3rd worksheet in the Program Assessment Workbook; examples are the 4th and 5th worksheets)
- Collate the Spring indirect evidence
May
- Analyze the Spring evidence, both direct and indirect (rubric summary table is the 6th worksheet in the Program Assessment Workbook; example is on the 7th worksheet; frequencies table/graph is on the 8th worksheet; example is on the 9th worksheet)
- Create/add to the improvement implementation plan (implementation plan is on the 10th worksheet in the Program Assessment Workbook; example is on the 11th worksheet)
- Prepare Forms Due June 1
June
- Submit Forms Due by June 1:
- Annual Learning Outcome Assessment Report (Years 1, 2, 3, and 4)
- Degree Program Map and Milestones (Years 1, 2, 3, and 4)
- Program Review & Continuous Improvement Process (PReCIP) Report (Year 5)