Assessment Plans

Plans for gathering evidence of student learning might include institution-wide or program-specific approaches that convey how student learning will be assessed, the data collection tools and approaches that will be used, and the timeline for implementation. National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (2021). NILOA Assessment Plans

Current assessment work and activities are narrowly focused on our HLC Assessment Academy Plan which is accessible below.

Please continue to check here for updates on our work and progress. 

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UW Assessment Plan for Student Learning

A first draft of the UW Assessment Plan for student learning was first created in May 2021 by then Associate Director, Dr. Samuel Shearer, Assessment/SoTL Specialist Heather Webb Springer, and Assessment Data Analyst, Jake Hayden. This draft will be used as a starting point for the UW HLC Assessment Academy Team, UW Assessment Coordinators, and the UW Assessment Team to finalize a new UW Assessment Plan for Student Learning. 

Purpose 

The purpose of this plan is to articulate UW’s strategic, structured, and continuous assessment processes for its stakeholders, which include prospective and current students and their parents; alumni; faculty, staff, and administrators; board of trustees; regulatory bodies; and employers. This plan outlines how UW is using assessment results to improve student learning and addresses how it is meeting the following three HLC assessment requirements listed under Core Component 4.B.: 

1. “The institution has effective processes for assessment of student learning and for achievement of learning goals in academic and cocurricular offerings. 

2. The institution uses the information gained from assessment to improve student learning. 

3. The institution’s processes and methodologies to assess student learning reflect good practice, including the substantial participation of faculty, instructional and other relevant staff members.” (The Higher Learning Commission- North Central Association, 2019) 

The previous UW assessment plan and the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment’s (NILOA) Transparency Framework are the guiding documents in the creation of this updated assessment plan. 

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Transparency and Support

• Two priorities for the Assessment Team are to provide an assessment process that is both transparent and supportive.  

• Transparency will be captured through implementing standardized processes and publishing reports and findings both to departments and programs, as well as on the UW Assessment website.  

• Support will be accomplished by responding to needs indicated in assessment survey data through workshops and opportunities for intentional conversations about assessment.

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