Assessment at NC State – 2010 Update
Program Learning Outcomes Assessment
Faculty and Department Chairs assess and report results for program level learning outcomes annually to the
Assessment Coordinator/Assessment Committee. Reports with results are available at
http://www.ncstatecollege.edu/studentsuccessplan/default.shtml . Compliance with the process for the last three
years is reported in the table below.
Program compliance reporting assessment results by Academic Division, 2007, 2008, 2009
Business/Liberal Arts/Education
Health Sciences/Public Service
Engineering/Workforce
Development
2007
7 reports (7 programs) = 100%
8 reports (8 programs) = 100%
6 reports (7 programs) = 86%
2008
6 reports (7programs) = 86%
8 reports (8 programs) = 100%
6 reports (6 programs) = 100%
2009
2 reports (6 programs)= 33%
8 reports (8 programs) = 100%
5 reports (6 programs)= 83%
Assessment Committee Actions:
 Feedback reports on program level learning outcomes and their assessment and documentation were provided
to program faculty in 2008. The Committee is working on new reports for 2010.
 A new reporting template, the Program Assessment Report, was developed (available at
http://www.ncstatecollege.edu/committees/assessment/default.htm ).
Notes and Concerns:
 The AA and AS degree programs will be required to develop and assess program level learning outcomes.
 Program Assessment Reports are due to the Assessment Committee annually by October 15th.
Core Learning Outcomes
NC State’s Core Learning Outcomes (CLOs) are in varying stages of development and maturity. The Assessment
Committee oversees the assessment of the CLOs. Accomplishments are reported in the table below. Reports are
available at http://www.ncstatecollege.edu/studentsuccessplan/default.shtml
CLO Assessment Accomplishments
CLO
Writing
Assessment Process/Status
Writing Across the Curriculum rubric to be used by
faculty annually in capstone or end-of-curriculum
courses.
Process Results
Reports for 2005, 2006 and 2009 –
Consistently low participation rate (5 - 7
programs out of 19-20)
Pre and post assessment from ENG 101 to 200 level
ENG courses.
Reports for 2007 and 2008.
Speech
Speech Across the Curriculum rubric to be used by
faculty annually in capstone or end-of-curriculum
courses.
First annual report in 2009. Low
participation rate (6 out of 20
programs).
Computation
Outcome re-defined in 2008, home-grown
assessment test pilot-tested spring 2009.
Assessment test to be more widely tested in 2010.
Assessment test needed improvement.
Improvement Efforts/Plans
Math Department continues
work.
Computer
Literacy
Computer based assessment test piloted spring
2008, administered spring 2009 (students in
capstone and end-of-curriculum courses invited to
take test, given incentive). Scheduled every 3 years
48 out of 103 students took the test –
low participation rate.
Information Literacy CLO Team
launched 2010 to
investigate/recommend
improvement. Definition and
standards under development.
Critical
Thinking
CAAP test piloted 2005, administered in 2006, 2007
in capstone and end-of-curriculum courses.
Scheduled every 3 years. Due 2010.
Excellent participation rates.
Questionable value of results from
standardized test.
Critical Thinking CLO Team
launched 2009 to
investigate/recommend
improvement. Critical Thinking
rubric developed for trial use.
Culture &
Community
Pilot testing attempted spring 2009 was a failure.
Outcome and assessment methods in the process
of being re-defined.
Culture & Community CLO Team
launched 2009 to
investigate/recommend
improvement. Team made some
progress then folded Fall.
Performance results for NC State’s CLOs:
CLO
Writing
Speech
Computation
Computer Literacy
Critical Thinking
Results
Thresholds met.
Threshold met.
No results.
Threshold met in e-mail and MS
Word, not in internet
Threshold met.
Culture & Community
No results.
Of the Core Learning Outcomes, only Critical Thinking is compared to other
higher education organizations. NC State’s results are comparable to
similar organizations.
Assessment Committee Actions:
 The Committee worked with Career Development to incorporate CLO assessment in the graduate survey.
Results will be available this spring.
 The Committee has worked to shift CLO assessment toward embedded assessment at the program/degree level
by: a) advocating that CLOs and their assessment are included in the curriculum mapping process for the
semester conversion of 2009-2012; b) including CLOs in the Program Assessment Results reporting template;
and c) charging the new CLO Teams to develop rubrics for faculty to use in CLO assessment.
Notes and Concerns:
 CCSSE is administered at the College every three years with two administrations completed. The Committee had
planned to mine the data for evidence of CLO achievement but has not been successful, in large part due to
other commitments by/for the IR department.
 We continue to struggle with CLO assessment.
Want to Get Involved?
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Support your program and/or department in assessing student learning outcomes and reporting the data.
Join the Assessment Committee.
Volunteer for one of the CLO Teams.
Participate in professional development activities that promote teaching, learning and assessment.
Map your curriculum when planning for the Q2S conversion.