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2014 Co-Curricular Assessment REPORT Template
Assessment Reports by Co-Curricular Units:
Due June 30, 2014
As part of our ongoing accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), all co-curricular units at
YSU participate in assessment processes and practices. This process is facilitated by the YSU Office of
Assessment (OOA). Assessment is an ongoing activity and is not limited to YSU’s self-study processes
for the Higher Learning Commission.
When is the report due? The deadline for all co-curricular units’ assessment reports is Monday, June
30, 2014. Note the earlier deadline.
Where do I send the report? Your report should be submitted through our new online reporting form
at http://www.jotformpro.com/ysuassessment/2014ccreport. Please complete this short form first.
Upon completion of this a unique link will be sent to you. This link allows users to save and return to
the report form.
What is the content of Assessment Reports? An assessment report includes assessment activities for
the previous academic/fiscal year with a summary of tangible results and very clear evidence of how
assessment data are being used to improve each unit’s activities. It is necessary to explain how student
learning outcomes relate to YSU’s 2020
Strategic Plan. Each unit can define the focus
for its report, based upon in-depth knowledge
of the unit.
What is crucial to include in these reports?
Assessment reports should not be a
description of unit activities but should focus
on data on student learning and explanations
of how data are used. It is very appropriate
and important for the assessment report to
include data that document student learning
strengths and challenges in the unit, as well as
realistic action steps for continuous
improvement. However, it is the vitality of the
unit’s assessment processes, not results,
which the Office of Assessment will evaluate
in its review. If applicable, reports should also
report on the status of action steps resulting from
previous years’ assessment processes.
A Robust Assessment Process
Do I have to complete an assessment plan and an assessment report? NO! Your unit may choose to
complete either an assessment plan or an assessment report. Do not complete both. If a unit wishes to
realign or redesign assessment activities in their unit, they may choose to submit an assessment plan
Please submit reports at http://www.jotformpro.com/ysuassessment/2014ccreport by Monday, June 30, 2014
Rev. 5/9/14
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2014 Co-Curricular Assessment REPORT Template
(in lieu of a report) using the plan template found on our website. Note: you cannot complete a plan
two years in a row—if your unit completed a plan last year, then your unit is not eligible to complete a
plan this year.
Items to note this year:
 June Deadline: Based on the feedback from multiple co-curricular units, the decision was made
to move the deadline back, align it with annual reports, and give more time before fall semester
preparations. The new deadline for submission is Monday, June 30, 2014.
 Fewer Questions: We continue to assess our process and look for ways to reduce reporting.
 Renewed Focus on Student Learning: With the refinement of the HLC criteria a renewed focus
will be placed on student learning outcomes for units, not faculty and staff learning. Reports
may still include projects involving faculty and staff learning but should focus on how their
development affects student learning.
 Higher Learning Commission Criteria: the HLC’s “New Criteria for Accreditation” was released in
February of 2012 and became effective on January 1, 2013. The New Criteria places much more
focus on student learning and on infusing the use of assessment for continuous improvement
into all that an institution does. To help support this increased focus, and to build familiarity
with the New Criteria across campus, the OOA has indicated how each question on the plan
relates to New Criteria. The New Criteria can be found on the HLC website at:
http://www.ncahlc.org/Information-for-Institutions/criteria-and-core-components.html.
What is the difference between assessment reports and annual reports? The key difference between
annual reports and assessment reports is that assessment reports do not include all activities from the
past year. Instead, each report will focus on one key student learning project or area. Also, it should
draw explicit connections to student learning as defined by The New Criteria for Accreditation from the
Higher Learning Commission. In addition, the assessment reports must indicate how data are used to
improve student learning on a continuous basis.
How will the reports be reviewed? A team from the YSU Assessment Council will review the reports
and provide feedback based on a rubric (a set of evaluative criteria). To ensure that our focus in on the
vitality of unit self-appraisal and continuous improvement in the area of student learning (and not the
form itself), note that questions on the rubric are weighted differently. You can view the rubric and
question values on the OOA website.
For accreditation purposes the OOA maintains a record of all plans and reports. Assessment plans and
reports will be posted on the OOA Word Press site or other secure site to provide units a wider
distribution of their results and recommendations. The OOA also seeks to provide information back the
campus community in useful ways; for example, the OOA “Use of Data” Chart informs units how other
units are collecting and using student learning data for improvement purposes.
How do I know what you are looking for in the report?
 Reports that would be considered exemplary do not need to be examples of a textbook
assessment process; rather, they show honest exploration of learning outcomes and earnest
Please submit reports at http://www.jotformpro.com/ysuassessment/2014ccreport by Monday, June 30, 2014
Rev. 5/9/14
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2014 Co-Curricular Assessment REPORT Template
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intent to use data to make decisions and share information. They will not necessarily have
“black and white” examples of data, analyses, or conclusions.
For definitions, hints, and tips on filling out the plan please see the “Assessment Plan Tips and
Hints” document on the OOA website at http://web.ysu.edu/assessment/templates.
In addition, a link to the rubric that will be used to review/evaluate/score this plan is provided
on the same template. Note that some questions in the template are weighted more heavily
than others; you can view the rubric for the questions’ weight, or value.
Workshops to review templates will be scheduled based on department need and will provide
an overview of the templates as well as critical elements to attend to in completing the report.
Please contact the OOA if interested.
In addition, open consultation hours will be scheduled in mid-June to allow departments to ask
specific questions, consult with the Director, or seek feedback on draft reports. All open
consultation forums will be in Tod Hall 359 and RSVPs are not required. The times will be:
o Tuesday, June 17th, 1-3pm
o Tuesday, June 24, 10am-12noon
o Wednesday, June 25, 2-4pm
Assessment process image credit, page one: http://pdx.edu/studentaffairs/assessment-planning-andpractice.
Please submit reports at http://www.jotformpro.com/ysuassessment/2014ccreport by Monday, June 30, 2014
Rev. 5/9/14
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2014 Co-Curricular Assessment REPORT Template
Annual Assessment Report
Due June 30, 2014
Instructions: Complete the report of your department’s assessment activities for the 2013-2014
academic/fiscal year. All supplemental documents and material needed to help you create this report
are located in the “Templates and Directions” Section of the Assessment website. Please save
electronic or paper copies of relevant assessment materials in your own office for at least 10 years.
NOTE: While you may save this Word form to draft your report, you will submit your answers through
the online link located at the bottom of the page.
Name of Department or Unit:
Contact Name:
Title:
Email Address:
Campus Phone:
Direct Supervisor:
Division Vice President:
Plan or report submitted in 2013?
Number of attachments to this report:
Student Learning Outcome Focus:
1. What student learning outcome (SLO) did you assess in 2013-14? Note: you may use the same
SLO used in a past year (but evaluating new data) or you may use a new SLO. (Related to HLC
Criterion 4, Core Component 4.B., Sub-component 11)
2. How does this learning outcome fit in with the YSU 2020 Strategic Plan? (C1, CC1A, SC2&3;
CC4E, SC1)
Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning Outcome Data:
3. How did you measure the student learning outcome (include no more than two methods and a
short data summary)? (C4, CC4B, SC2). Note that an exemplary answer would include at least
one direct measure.
For questions 4-6, please provide an evaluation of the 2013-2014 data you collected related to your
unit’s student learning outcome. (C4, CC4B, SC3)
4. Based on the data, what is one key strength of student learning?
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Hereafter these references will be abbreviated, i.e., Related to HLC Criterion 4, Core Component 4.B, Sub-component 1 will
read C4, CC4B, SC1.
Please submit reports at http://www.jotformpro.com/ysuassessment/2014ccreport by Monday, June 30, 2014
Rev. 5/9/14
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2014 Co-Curricular Assessment REPORT Template
5. Based on the data, what is one important challenge of student learning?
6. What action step has been identified based on this evaluation of the data? What is the status of
this action step? Note: Data may not indicate the need for change; this is fine. In this case, just
explain your unit’s conclusion resulting from the data.
Relation to New Higher Learning Commission Criteria:
7. Please provide an example of how your unit could provide evidence, through learning
outcomes assessment, for the following HLC criterion statement (with a focus on the bolded
Subcomponent 2):
HLC Criterion Five. Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness
The institution’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission,
improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and
opportunities. The institution plans for the future.
Core Component 5.C. The institution engages in systematic and integrated planning.
Sub-component 2. The institution links its processes for assessment of
student learning, evaluation of operations, planning, and budgeting.
Use of Data:
8. Feedback loop. As part of a healthy assessment process, assessment activities and highlights
should be shared with, and feedback and recommendations solicited from, both internal
stakeholders (such as unit staff) as well as external stakeholders (such as students, other
staff/faculty, and the wider community). How and when were both internal and external
stakeholders involved in the assessment process this past year? (e.g., data sharing and
recommendation gathering) (C4, CC4B, SC4)
9. In the past several years (e.g., 2008-2013) you have analyzed data and identified action steps
for learning outcomes. Considering action steps from previous years, what has been an impact
on student learning as a result of (one of) those action steps? (Only one example is needed).
(C4, CC4B, SC3)
10. If feedback was given, how did your unit utilize that feedback from the Office of Assessment
regarding last year’s assessment report?
11. Optional: Is there anything else you would like to share regarding your assessment report
and/or is there any particular area on which you would like assistance or feedback?
Please submit reports at http://www.jotformpro.com/ysuassessment/2014ccreport by Monday, June 30, 2014
Rev. 5/9/14