Student Learning Outcomes Assessment

The collection and use of student learning evidence in decision-making and in advancing both institutional achievement and public accountability is recognized as student learning outcomes assessment. Three interconnected components that undergird this multifaceted subject include accountability, accreditation, and assessment; these components have the [Page 1441]potential to improve student learning and institutional performance outcomes.

Educational institutions vary extensively in the learning outcomes and quality of their programs. Validating expected student learning is of intensifying importance in today’s milieu, as institutions face pressure to improve their performance in a wide range of areas. In the United States, federal and public scrutiny coupled with possible consequences of funding loss have served as an impetus for colleges and universities to be more accountable for student learning outcomes. Although significant progress ...