Integrated Core Learning Assessment

Assessment of student learning is essential for continuous improvement of both the academic program and the experiential learning component.  ICL has a foundation of UC's General Education Core with specific learning outcomes or competencies:  critical thinking, effective communication, knowledge integration, and social responsibility.  These "skills for life success" are taught and nutured by faculty throughout the student's undergraduate degree and assessed in the student's senior capstone course.  Assessing General Education with the colleges/units has the advantage of involving faculty from each unit in the assessment process and encouraging a discussion of the baccalaureate competencies within the context of specific programs.  (Examples of best practices or "hallmarks of success" from the April 2009 Higher Learning Commission Annual Meeting)

After all college meetings are completed, a University General Education Core assessment report is shared with senior capstone course faculty, designated General Education Core faculty representatives, and appropriate college administrators.  All assessment reports are posted each year on the General Education Core web site, including college specific assessment reports and information.

Also important to ICL Assessment is the experiential learning component.  Our undergraduates complete a vast array of courses, projects, internships, service learning, and cooperative education work experiences.  Complex, diverse, and collaborative settings for learning help students value a comprehensive education- an education that encompasses the liberal arts as well as more scientific and technological domains.

The Office of Institutional Research coordinates most of the assessment measures.  Examples are included in the following table:

Survey	Schedule	Reporting Unit	Results Inform
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)	Every other year;  spring data submission	Institutional Research	Strategies that address campus environment, advising, diversity, student faculty interaction
Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI)	Every other year; alternate with NSSE; spring data submission	Institutional Research	Strategies that address student centeredness, campus climate, advising, instructional effectiveness, service to students, safety
Undergraduate Graduating Student Survey	Semi-annual; spring data submission	Institutional Research	Strategies that address academic experiences, classroom experiences, and post-graduation employment
Faculty Survey for Student Engagement (FSSE)	Autumn 2006	Institutional Research	Strategies that address faculty support, development and student faculty interaction
HERI Faculty Survey	Spring 2008	Institutional Research	Strategies that address campus planning and policy analysis, faculty development programs, and improved students’ educational experiences
Study Abroad Program Evaluations	Continuous/Ongoing	UC International	Continuous Program Improvement, Outcomes Assessment
Employer Assessment of Co-op Students (I-LEAP)	Quarterly	Professional Practice	College and Program Level Decision Making

Coming Soon!  We will soon be adding Learning Portfolios, including E-Portfolios, to ICL assessment.  Portfolios provide a documented history of student accomplishments and reflections providing a history of Integrated Core Learning outcomes and an instrument of program improvement.