Outcomes Assessment
Overview
Outcome assessment is a collaborative process of inquiry regarding student learning outcomes, followed by analysis, reflection, and action. The goal of outcomes assessment is to improve student learning and improve instructional programs. Outcomes assessment is not individual student, faculty, course, or program evaluation.
Programmatic learning outcomes assessment is the process by which we plan for student learning, implement instructional strategies that support learning, collect data on how well students are meeting learning targets, analyze and interpret the evidence of how well students learned, and then use the results to help inform curricular improvement and improve student learning.
Program-level assessment is used to determine how well the program as a whole prepares students to achieve the program learning outcomes. It can also be used to identify curricular gaps.
Programmatic Assessment Cycle:
- Develop/Review the Plan
- Collect Data
- Analyze & Interpret Data
- Share Data
- Identify & Implement Changes and Repeat
Programmatic Assessment Cycle Timeline & Calendar
Programmatic learning outcomes assessment follows the cycle of plan, do, assess, act:
- Fall quarter: Plan - Outcomes, Methods, Targets
- Fall, winter, spring quarters: Do - Data Collection
- Spring quarter: Assess/Share - Analysis and Interpretation
- Spring, summer, fall quarter: Act - Use of Results
Reports documenting the above cycle are due the first Friday of June by program chairs and general education faculty.
The next due date for assessment reports is Friday, June 5th, 2026.
Need Help?
For questions, comments, to be added to the Faculty Outcomes Assessment Resource (FOAR) Canvas shell, or help related to outcomes assessment, message outcomes@clark.edu