Assessment

Using a variety of methods, we help faculty and administrators assess teaching and learning so that they can create rich educational experiences for undergraduates. In addition, we partner with other state baccalaureate-granting public institutions to share assessment practices and information about ability areas mandated by the State legislature for Washington graduates: critical thinking, writing, quantitative reasoning, and information literacy and technology. Our services include:

Administering student surveys
  • Entering Student Survey
  • Senior Survey
  • Alumni Surveys (one, five, and 10 years after graduation)
Conducting studies that assess student learning
  • UW Study of Undergraduate Learning (UW SOUL), a four-year study tracking 304 undergraduates through their years in college
  • Assessment of experimental courses
  • Assistance with design and implementation of departmental assessment of majors
Leading strategic planning processes
  • Assistance with identification of mission, values, and goals
  • Connection of unit mission and goals to area mission and goals
Assessment, analysis and reporting
  • Survey data
  • Focus groups
  • Interviews
  • Portfolios
  • Student self-assessment

Assessment of Student Learning

We assist faculty and departments articulate goals for student learning, both course-based goals and goals for majors. In addition, we assist faculty and departments in identifying methods for assessing those goals, as well as providing them with help in analyzing assessment results.

We also assess student learning, ourselves, conducting both survey research and qualitative studies on teaching and learning.