Department:
Assessment Coordinator:
Departmental Mission:
4.
5.
6.
Departmental Student Learning Outcomes: Upon graduation, majors will be able to
1.
2.
3.
GUR Learning Outcomes:
Assessment Measures
SLO’s
Assessed
Use of the Information

Department:
Assessment Coordinator:
Departmental Mission:
2.
3.
4.
5.
Departmental Student Learning Outcomes: Upon graduation, majors will be able to
1.
6.
GUR Learning Outcomes:
Assessment Measures
SLO’s
Assessed
Use of the Information
Program Changes Based on Assessment

Example:
Department: Psychology
Assessment Coordinator: Symons/Czopp
Departmental Mission:
The WWU Department of Psychology provides an exemplary educational program based on the scientific study of psychological processes.
The department represents the comprehensive scope of psychology including its historical, developmental, biological, cognitive, social and cultural foundations. Through pedagogy, scholarship and service the faculty emphasizes scientific methodology to enhance critical thinking, writing, research skills, and promote the application of psychological knowledge to the world’s needs and problems.
Departmental Student Learning Outcomes: Upon graduation, Psychology majors will be able to
1.
demonstrate knowledge of psychological theory across a broad range of content areas
2.
design and implement theoretically based and methodologically sound research projects
3.
evaluate data and draw appropriate conclusions
4.
recognize applicability of psychological theories and principles in real world settings
5.
communicate effectively
6.
demonstrate critical thinking
7.
recognize the importance of individual differences
8.
view their education in psychology as relevant to their lives post-graduation
GUR Student Learning Outcomes
3. Use quantitative and scientific reasoning to frame and solve problems.
11. Understand and assess the impacts of interactions among the individual, society and the environment.

Student Learning Objectives Assessed:
Measures
SLO’s
Assessed
Final exams, papers, presentations and projects in 400-level senior seminar courses.
Final exams, papers, presentations and projects in Psych 302 &
303 (Research Methods and statistical Analysis)
1,2,3,4,5,6,7
2, 3
Summaries of student performance, relative to the SLO’s, are reported annually to the Assessment
Coordinator by faculty teaching 302 & 303. This data is summarized, shared, and acted upon, as described above.
Use of the Information
Summaries of student performance, relative to the SLO’s, are reported annually to the
Chair/assessment coordinator by faculty teaching senior seminars. The Chair/coordinator summarizes responses for the department, together with other data, in the annual assessment meeting. The meeting concludes in the creation of a departmental improvement plan.
Presentations at annual
PsychFest Conference
Alumni Survey &
Employee Surveys
5
8
Faculty observe presentations at annual conference and assess ability of students to orally summarize research findings, explain quantitative results, and speak effectively. Noted strengths and weaknesses relative to this SLO are summarized, shared and acted upon, as described above.
Alumni are asked to self report satisfaction with their skill and knowledge provided by their
Psychology BS, as measured by their performance. Employers are asked to report the same for their hires. This data is summarized, shared and acted upon, as described above.
Final exams, papers, presentations and projects in Psych 101,
118 & 119,
GUR
Outcomes, 3,
11
Summaries of strengths and weaknesses of student performance, relative to GUR Outcomes 3 & 11, are reported annually to the Assessment Coordinator. This data is summarized, shared, and acted upon, as described above; a written summary is sent to the CUE committee for action.
Senior Exit Survey
1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Students are asked to self report satisfaction with their skill and knowledge, as measured by their performance, relative to each SLO. This data is summarized, shared and acted upon, as described above.
Senior Exit Survey
Students report satisfaction with quality of faculty, quality of courses, course availability, career preparation, and advising.

Department: Psychology
Assessment Coordinator: Symons/Czopp
Departmental Mission:
The WWU Department of Psychology provides an exemplary educational program based on the scientific study of psychological processes.
The department represents the comprehensive scope of psychology including its historical, developmental, biological, cognitive, social and cultural foundations. Through pedagogy, scholarship and service the faculty emphasizes scientific methodology to enhance critical thinking, writing, research skills, and promote the application of psychological knowledge to the world’s needs and problems.
Department Student Learning Outcomes: Upon graduation, Psychology majors will be able to
1.
demonstrate knowledge of psychological theory across a broad range of content areas
2.
design and implement theoretically based and methodologically sound research projects
3.
evaluate data and draw appropriate conclusions
4.
recognize applicability of psychological theories and principles in real world settings
5.
communicate effectively
6.
demonstrate critical thinking
7.
recognize the importance of individual differences
8.
view their education in psychology as relevant to their lives post-graduation
Student Learning Objectives Assessed:
Measures SLO’s Assessed Results
Final exams, papers, presentations and projects in
400-level senior seminar courses & 302, 303.
2, 3
Summaries of student performance, relative to SLO 2 & 3, were reported by faculty teaching senior seminars in the annual assessment meeting. We concluded that students demonstrate a bias toward positive results and do not recognize the scientific importance of results that disconfirm the hypothesis.
Example(s) of Changes Based on Assessment
We will emphasize the scientific value of scientific results that disconfirm a research hypothesis at all levels of instruction and include a lesson on the dangers of a research bias toward confirming results in psych 303.