Assessment Approach
Core Elements
While academic and non-academic areas have unique outcomes and interventions, NLU utilizes common elements to its assessment approach. See a brief description of these elements below.
- Curriculum Maps – student learning outcomes are articulated and aligned to interventions, as well as indicating contributing connections to the University Learning Outcomes (ULOs). Curriculum mapping serves many purposes, not just assessment needs.
- Annual Plans – methods and measures identified based on student learning outcomes being assessed for the given year. Past data can inform future plans, as areas intentionally determine what is measured, how, when, and who is involved.
- Success Criteria –expected student learning as a result of interventions and measurement, articulated to enable a clear indication of achievement.
- Reports – annual documentation of process, analysis, interpretation, and intended actions to be taken as a result of assessment efforts.
- Taking Action – areas to enact change for improvement, while also working to effectively share results with respective audiences.
General Timeline
While exact timelines and deliverables may vary per program, area, or college, below is the general timeline of assessment cycle at NLU:
- Early Fall: Create/confirm curriculum map, annual plan, and success criteria.
- Fall through Summer: Implement assessment plan to collect data for the academic year.
- Late Summer: Analyze, reflect, report, and take action based on assessment results.
Continuous Improvement Focused
Rooted in assessment work, the university articulated a continuous improvement cycle which is designed to inform decision- making. Consisting of five steps, this cycle should be utilized to act and improve on assessment efforts. Note: The fifth step of adjusting and acting can result in the creation of a redesigned plan or defining a new goal.
The five-step cycle is depicted on the right:
- Define goal or intended outcome (Define)
- Develop an action plan (Plan)
- Implement plan (Implement)
- Evaluate and interpret results (Evaluate)
- Adjust or act for continuous improvement (Adjust)
