Learning Outcomes Assessment Process at the American Public University System

"Assessment is an ongoing process aimed at understanding and improving student learning.  It involves making our expectations explicit and public; setting appropriate criteria and high standards for learning quality; systematically gathering, analyzing, and interpreting evidence to determine how well performance matches those expectations and standards; and using the resulting information to document, explain, and improve performance. Assessment helps us create a shared academic culture dedicated to assuring and improving the quality of higher education." (AAHE Bulletin, November 1995)

The American Public University System is committed to student learning outcomes assessment and its impact on the quality of teaching and learning.  Learning outcomes assessment in the American Public University System is based on a process in which faculty and staff have identified student learning outcomes at the institutional, degree program, and course levels.  A wide variety of direct and indirect assessment measures are used to document student learning, and these measures are designed to assess the student learning outcomes posted in the catalog, website, and course syllabi.  The  learning outcomes assessment program produces feedback to academic programs on the performance of its educational processes, thereby allowing each program to continually improve. 

Continuous assessment activities enables the University System to identify what students are learning and improve on the student learning environment through courses and academic programs.  The learning outcomes assessment program at APUS: 1) provides students with useful information about their current knowledge, skills, and abilities; 2) enables the University System to evaluate the effectiveness of its academic programs in terms of achieving the desired learning objectives for its students; and 3) is used for continuous improvement at the institutional, degree program and course level.   

Guided by the sharing of assessment results to continuously improve student learning, the assessment process is designed to answer a broad question, how well are we accomplishing our mission? Learning outcomes assessment at APUS is an evolutionary process, one that has no specific end other than continuous improvement.  Therefore, the learning outcomes assessment process is continuously refined as new milestones are set.  Throughout this continual refinement process, five questions developed by the Higher Learning Commission in 2005, are considered to guide the learning outcomes assessment program and its contribution to the affirmation and improvement of student learning at APUS. 

How are your stated student learning outcomes appropriate to your mission, program, and degrees?

What evidence do you have that students achieve your stated learning outcomes?

In what ways do you analyze and use evidence of student learning?

How do you ensure share responsibility for assessment of student learning?

How do you evaluate and improve the effectiveness of your efforts to assess and improve student learning?

The American Public University System recognizes that faculty determination of the crucial issues of each academic program is essential and that learning outcomes assessment planning is most effectively devised by faculty at both the institutional and degree program levels.  Some components of learning assessment represent fundamental objectives of the University System and are set at the institutional level and carried down through the departments, while other components are set at the departmental level to address learning outcomes specific and unique to an academic program or programs.  The results from the assessment process provide information which can be used to determine whether or not intended learning outcomes are being achieved and how a particular program can be improved.  The process also informs faculty and other decision-makers about relevant issues that can impact student learning.  Finally, the process enables the APUS to prove to its prospects, students, graduates, alumni, and external constituencies that its degree programs achieve valued and recognizable objectives.