Evidence of Student Learning

Evidence of Student Learning:  University Wide Assessment 

National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)

Our results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)  have indicated patterns of engagement that help support student learning and some areas for improvement.  It is difficult to capture the richness of this data set but university staff and faculty are presented with the reports and seek to use them as guide to process or program refinements.  See below for a selection of our results.  Note that UWL, along with our peer UW Comprehensive Universities, administer the NSSE on a three year cycle, most recently in Spring 2023.

• NSSE 2023 Snapshot Report
• NSSE 2023 High Impact Practices Report
• NSSE 2023 Key Findings

Previous Administration 2020:

• NSSE 2020 Snapshot Report
• NSSE 2020 Briefs
  • NSSE 2020 Diversity and Climate Brief
  • NSSE 2020 First Year Learning Brief
  • NSSE 2020 Teaching & Learning Brief  

Evidence of Student Learning : Program Level

Each academic program at UWL makes use of assessment to collect evidence on student learning of the intended learning outcomes for the program.  These results are reported on a regular basis.  Exemplars of reports of programs across our colleges are shared below. 

College of Arts, Social Sciences, & Humanities

• Archaeological Studies
• Sociology

College of Science & Health

• Biology
• Exercise & Sports Science: Sports Management

College of Business Administration

• College Wide Core Assessment
• Economics

School of Education, Continuing, and Professional Education

• Educational Studies 

Evidence of Student Learning: General Education Program

The General Education Program has collected the results of the course embedded process over several cycles.  The results of the tasks are combined and reported in terms of the levels of students showing performance on the task in the categories of exemplary, proficient, competent, under-developed, and unsatisfactory.  These counts of students in each performance level are then aligned with the six program student learning outcomes to produce a report. 

The initial summary of rubric ratings from 2010-2015 is presented below.  In 2015 the process began to be administered via a new software and that data is being organized to produce a similar report.  It will be shared when available. 

Results for General Education Assessment Process  

Course Level Assessment Evidence

Individual faculty members are also active in the direct assessment of learning outcomes specific to their individual courses. Direct assessment involves the collection of information from student artifacts, works, presentations, performances where they are asked to directly display the intended student learning outcomes.   Faculty may also desire to assess newly designed courses or use of new teaching strategies through this level of assessment. 

Faculty who are being reviewed for promotion are expected to report on the direct assessment of student learning outcomes as indicated in the JPC guidelines. The candidate should show how the results from an assessment informed a change in teaching and re-assessment of student learning. Examples of evidence appendices regarding direct assessment are available off the Provost’s promotion resource page.

Examples of Course Level Assessment

Below are some examples for course level assessment as used in the promotion process.  UWL Faculty and Instructors can access via Office 365 using your login credentials.   

1. • Borja (MUS) - Assessment of Music History Sequence
   • Borja (MUS) - MUS 201 Musical Cultures Assessment
   • Chedister (MTH) - Use of Exit Ticket for Formative Assessment in MTH 136 Math for Elementary Teachers II
   • Hawkes (ART) - Course Revision Case Study: Intro to Digital Photography
   • Hawkes (ART) - Sample Assignments and Assessment Documents
   • Cooper Stoll (SOC) - Sample SLOs and Assessment Instruments for Foundations of Sociological Analysis
   • Cooper Stoll (SOC) - Sample SLO and Assessment Instruments for Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
   • Dale (POL) - Direct Assessment for POL 251 Political Theory
   • Dale (POL) - Direct Assessment for POL 355
   • Haried (IS) - Assessment of Problem Solving SLO in the Information Systems Major
   • King-Heiden (BIO) - Assessing Biology Major SLO 'Interpreting and Producing Graphs' in BIO 105 General Biology
   • Graham (MKT) - Direct Assessment for MKT 365, Direct Assessment for MKT 386

For more information concerning course assessment, contact University Assessment Coordinator Dr. Patrick Barlow .