Program Assessment Overview

Program assessment is the process of establishing program learning outcomes, and assessing student performance for each outcome. At the most basic level, program assessment is the process of 1) Setting goals  2) Gathering information about progress toward those goals and 3) Taking action on the information received. Program assessment is described in each department's Assessment Plan, which include outcomes, threshold values, curriculum maps, and assessment schedules.

Purpose

The purpose of assessment in higher education:

Assessment is good educational practice because it demonstrates what is going on in the classroom, and provides data on improving our programs through continual monitoring of student learning. The steps of assessment include:

1. 1. Define what we expect our students to learn (learning outcomes) - GOALS
   2. Assess if learning outcomes are being achieved - INFORMATION
   3. Respond to assessment and integrate results toward continued quality improvements - ACTIONS

At Montana State university, assessment of student learning is governed by the Student Outcomes Assessment Policy and directed by the Assessment and Outcomes Committee, and MSU Core Curriculum Committee.

Program Assessment Step-by-Step

Assessment is good educational practice because it demonstrates what you are already doing, improving your program through continual monitoring of student learning. 

Assessment Report Templates

All undergraduate academic programs at Montana State University are required to submit a report on the previous year's assessment activities annually, and biennially for graduate programs.

Assessment Grants Special Project (2022-2023)

The Office of Academic Affairs is offered Assessment Innovation and Effectiveness Grants to programs to enhance their assessment efforts in programs or courses in demonstrable ways as part of a special project in 2022-2023.

Submitted Assessment Exemplars

See examples of submitted assessment reports. 

Assessment Planning Resources

• Glossary of Assessment Terms

How do I develop learning outcomes (course and program)? Consider the needs of your program and which areas below may be a good fit.

• Taxonomies of the Cognitive Domain
• Bloom's Action Verbs for Learning Outcomes
• Fink's Taxonomy of Significant Learning
• Marzano & Kendall Taxonomy of Educational Objectives

How do I develop Program Assessment Rubrics?

• VALUE Rubrics - Association of American Colleges & Universities
• Sample Learning Outcomes & Rubrics
• Workshop I Presentation 2/15/19: Evaluating Program Learning Outcomes

How do I develop a Graduate Program Assessment Plan?

• Graduate Program Assessment Guide

Questions or Suggestions?

Deb Blanchard, Assistant Provost
deborahblanchard@montana.edu