Assessment of Student Learning
At Muskingum, we strive to continually improve student learning through the articulation of learning outcomes and through assessment of those outcomes at the institutional, programmatic, and course levels.
Our Institutional Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs) are outcomes we want to see our students achieve in their academic and post-Muskingum lives, skills expected in the 21st century workplace as well as those necessary to lead, as our mission states, “vocationally productive, personally satisfying and socially responsible lives.” Muskingum assesses those learning outcomes in various programs, including the program senior capstones, First-Year Experience, the General Education program, and in cocurricular programming.
Assessment of the Gen Ed takes place at the category level, since each of the 13 categories of the Gen Ed has its own learning outcome. Redesigned in 2015, the Gen Ed Assessment Plan ensures that all faculty who teach in the Gen Ed participate in its assessment. Likewise, First-Year Experience assesses its own learning outcomes alongside those that overlap with the ISLOs.
Individual programs/majors design their unique assessment plans and faculty within these programs are responsible for assessing student learning in the majors annually and engaging in reflection and program improvement through the triennial student learning assessment report.
Muskingum strongly believes that student learning occurs not only in academic programs but through a variety of cocurricular activities. Muskingum defines “cocurricular” as programs and activities outside the academic curriculum that support the University’s mission. University-supported programs such as Athletics, Residence Life, and Career Services assess student learning in their programs, especially as their outcomes overlap with the University ISLOs.
Through intentional, articulated learning outcomes and assessment of those outcomes, Muskingum strives to improve student learning and deliver on its mission.