The best use of assessment results is to share it with faculty members and use the information as a tool for facilitating discussion about the continuous development and improvement of the curriculum or degree program. Assessment information should be used to justify things that are working well in the program or curriculum and to identify areas for development or improvement. Assessment information is of little value unless is it shared with appropriate audiences and used in meaningful ways (Palomba & Banta 2000). For this reason, all academic programs are asked to describe uses of assessment results in their annual reports.

Uses of Assessment Results Reported by OSU Academic Programs:

•Changes in course content
•Addition / deletion of courses or changes in course sequences
•Changes in degree requirements or degree sheet options
•Changes in emphasis for new or vacant faculty positions
•Use of assessment information to facilitate curriculum discussions at faculty meetings, curriculum committee meetings, and faculty retreats
•Use of assessment information to guide changes in degree programs and development of new degree program options
•Justification of past curriculum changes and to show program improvement resulting from those changes
•Changes in advising processes
•Development of academic services for students
•Development of new career exploration and career services for students
•Changes to student academic facilities such as computer labs, science labs, and study areas
•Development of program-based websites to provide students with academic and program information
•Sharing assessment information to alumni and industrial review boards
•Use of assessment information to further refine the assessment methods or to implement new assessment methods