Outcomes Assessment of Graduate Programs

Outcomes Assessment of Graduate Programs Updated: May 2017,

While most undergraduate majors have assessment plans that include program desired learning outcomes and plans to assess student performance, very few of our graduate programs currently have assessment plans. That is not to say that assessment of student performance is not being done in our graduate programs. Indeed, comprehensive examinations and thesis defenses are excellent assessment tools. But we need to add one more step to close the loop on outcomes assessment: we need to review the assessment results and make decisions about ways to improve student performance (when necessary).

There is actually a high level of commonality in the way we run graduate education across many of our programs. This allows for a one-size-fits-most approach to preparing assessment plans for graduate education. We will utilize this approach to bring our graduate programs into compliance with accreditation requirements to have and use assessment plans for all of our programs, at both the undergraduate and graduate level. At this time, all of our graduate programs will utilize the assessment plan detailed below, unless a program-specific assessment plan is already on file (e.g., MFA program in School of Film and Photography). Any program can opt out of the standard graduate assessment plan simply by providing an alternate assessment plan that includes at least the following elements:

 Program learning outcomes

 Identified data sources

 Schedule for assessment

Standard Graduate Assessment Plan

Program Learning Outcomes The program outcomes shown here were developed at Oregon State University and include:

For masters’ students:

a. Conduct research or produce some other form of creative work, and

b. Demonstrate mastery of subject material, and

c. Be able to conduct scholarly or professional activities in an ethical manner.

For doctoral students:

a. Produce and defend an original significant contribution to knowledge;

b. Demonstrate mastery of subject material; and c. Be able to conduct scholarly activities in an ethical manner.

Note: Item “c” in each list is satisfied by ensuring that all graduate students have received training in the responsible conduct of research.

Identified Data Sources The data sources used for assessment of graduate programs includes:

 Comprehensive examinations

 Thesis defenses

Schedule of Assessment  Assessment reports for Masters programs will be submitted in September of even-numbered years.

 Assessment reports for Doctoral programs will be submitted in September of odd-numbered years.

The assessment report is to include:

 A list of students taking comprehensive examinations and defending theses in the past two years.

 The results of those examinations and defenses (numbers of passes and failures).

 A statement on the assessment of the program indicating if the program outcomes are being met, and identifying any program changes needed to better prepare students to meet the program outcomes.

Assessment reports are to be submitted to [email protected]