University Assessment & Testing

FAQs About Program Outcomes Assessment

• Do we have to assess all our students?

  No, the use of appropriate sampling strategies is encouraged.

• Do we have to do program assessment every year?

  Yes, assessment should be an ongoing, continuous part of the life of the program, and Assessment Reports should be submitted on an annual basis. However, you do not have to assess every student learning outcome every year. Programs with many student learning outcomes may rotate between assessing different learning outcomes in different years (unless required by your program's accreditor). Programs with smaller enrollments may wish to implement the same assessment methods for several years in a row in order to collect sufficient data for making decisions about program changes. Assessment should be done in a way that is meaningful and manageable and provides the program with clear information about whether or not students are achieving the desired learning outcomes. Plans for assessing different outcomes over different years should be defined in your program's Assessment Plan.

• What assessment method should we use in our program?

  There is no single "best" assessment method that will work for all programs and all learning outcomes. Programs should seek out direct assessment methods (methods that ask students to demonstrate achievement like a capstone project) instead of indirect methods (methods, like a survey, that ask students what they think they learned). It is our experience that direct assessment methods provide better evidence for implementing program improvements than indirect methods. Many programs have been successful using capstone projects (presentations, performances, theses, research papers, etc.), portfolios, course-embedded assessments (research papers, projects, etc.), internship or practicum evaluations, or use of professional jurors or evaluators.

• Where can I find my program's current Assessment Plan and most recent Assessment Report?

  Current Assessment Plans and Reports are available through the Nuventive Improvement Platform, OSU's centralized assessment management system. If you do not have access to the system and would like to see your program's current plan or report, contact nuventive@okstate.edu.

• What does an Assessment Coordinator do?

  Assessment Coordinators are faculty members who work with their colleagues in their department to implement (or develop) their program's Assessment Plan and submit annual Assessment Reports. The Assessment Coordinator is also responsible for submitting requests for assessment funding. Although assessment is the responsibility of all faculty members in a program, the Assessment Coordinator is the point person who works to see that assessment is implemented.

• What, exactly, does my program have to do for assessment?

  Guidelines for Assessment Plans and Reports are available here: Program Outcomes Assessment PLAN Guidelines and here: Program Outcomes Assessment REPORT Guidelines

• How does my department request assessment funds?

  See the details for requesting assessment funds on the Funding Request page. Assessment at OSU is funded through student fees paid by OSU undergraduate and graduate students (not including the College of Veterinary Medicine or the College of Osteopathic Medicine).

• What does the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association require in terms of assessment?

  The Higher Learning Commission requires engagement in assessment as a means of continuous improvement and expects assessment to be focused on student learning. As a condition of accreditation, the Higher Learning Commission requires evidence that assessment data are used to improve teaching, learning, and other student services and that faculty members are committed to assessment and improving student achievement.

• What do the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) require in terms of assessment?

  In general, OSRHE requires OSU to assess students' readiness for college level coursework through entry-level assessment and course placement, the university's general education programs, and program outcomes to show student achievement.  OSU must submit an annual report to the regents on these assessment activities. More information on program outcomes assessment from the OSU Assessment and Academic Improvement Council (AAIC) is available here.

• Where can I find archived Assessment Plans and Reports for my Department?

  Access to archived Assessment Plans and Reports submitted prior to 2020 is available here. More recent plans and reports are in the Nuventive Improvement Platform.

• Where can the public go to find out more about assessment at Oklahoma State University?

  This website is the best location to find information about assessment activities at Oklahoma State University. Click the "Assessment" link in the top menu.  Additional contact information is available by clicking the "Contact Us" link in the top menu.

• How are students informed about assessment?

  Students are notified about University assessment activities in the University Catalog.  Assessment results are available online on this website.