Assessment Information and Resources

The information and resources listed on this page serve as tools for CMU’s assessment processes as established by the CMU Academic Senate and identified in the Curriculum Authority Document. The resources listed are not intended to substitute the policies outlined in the Curriculum Authority Document nor any other academic policies approved by the Academic Senate.

The Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support and College Assessment Coordinators are available to assist with developing and continuing assessment processes that reinforce CMU’s commitment to a student-focused learning environment.

Assessment at CMU

Student learning outcomes assessment at CMU is defined as the ongoing monitoring of the extent to which students are developing the knowledge, skills, beliefs, and attitudes that are appropriate for graduates of their respective academic programs. Assessment of student learning assists programs in defining course goals and outcomes. Assessment data provides information for faculty development of strong programs, effective curriculum, and innovative teaching. In addition, student learning outcomes assessment assists programs, departments, councils, colleges, and the university in accreditation by providing evidence of quality teaching and learning. -- Policy on Student Learning Outcomes at CMU  

Why assessment of student learning is important

There are many reasons the assessment of student learning is important. Assessment helps us:

• Discover what students ARE actually learning versus what we THINK they are learning.  
• Identify student-learning areas that are missing, weak, duplicated, and/or conflicting.  
• Make changes in our curriculum and courses to fill in curriculum gaps and omissions; strengthen weak areas and give coherent messages.  
• Become better teachers by aligning what we do to more effectively meet the needs of the learners.  
• Provide empirical information drawn from student learning outcomes data for future program planning.  
• Have empirical data about student learning outcomes to show decision-makers that what we do works.  

Senate-appointed assessment committees

Several different University committees are responsible for providing assistance and guidance to faculty and staff for student learning outcomes assessment at CMU. The Assessment Council, established by the Academic Senate in 1992, is the primary committee that develops and monitors program-level assessment. Its members, in cooperation with faculty and staff closest to the delivery of programs, ensure that conversations about student learning and program improvement remain central to departments and units.

In addition, the General Education Committee and the Quality Assurance Systems Committee (Educator Preparation Programs) have key roles in student learning outcomes assessment.