As part of the Program Assessment Cycle, programs are to provide an annual update to the Provost’s office regarding their progress, successes, and challenges. The following template should be used to provide this update. Parts 1-5 should be submitted as a Word doc (suggested length approx. 3 pages). Portions of Part 5 are also submitted via the Educational Assessment Application. Please use the time frame of the past year (summer 2024, fall 2024, spring 2025) for the update. For guidance on how to use the MU Educational Assessment App, click here.

Updates are due Monday, June 2, 2025. Please submit Parts 1-5 in one Word doc to Associate Provost Brian Houston. This will indicate that Part 5 has also been completed via the online app.

Part 1: Noteworthy Accomplishments

Identify any noteworthy accomplishments the program has achieved in the past year.

Part 2: Progress towards Goals

Review progress toward goals and strategies identified in the Program Assessment report, including unanticipated challenges toward achieving program goals. Also note any changes in program goals and strategies and, where appropriate, their impact on student learning.

Part 3: Doctoral Graduates

Provide the names, contact information, and current positions of doctoral graduates during the past year (summer, fall, current spring semester graduates).

Part 4: External Awards

Indicate any external awards that your faculty applied for or were nominated for. Please indicate which ones were awarded and, if not awarded, if they plan to apply again.

Part 5: Assessment of Student Learning

Institutional accreditation requires each degree program to establish a process for the direct assessment of student learning and to ensure clear curriculum alignment between Program Outcomes and Course Learning Objectives. For additional guidance, please visit the “Assessment of Student Learning” website.

Each program should use the MU Educational Assessment App to:

• Confirm/update Program Outcomes
• Confirm/update curricular mapping
• Confirm assessment plans
• Input data for at least one Program Outcome per degree program
• Analyze findings to inform curricular decisions

In the MU Educational Assessment App, complete the following for each degree program:

1. Confirm/update Program Outcomes and Assessment Plans. Locate your department’s program outcomes for each degree program. These should define what students know and/or be able to do by the end of their program. Assessment plans for each outcome should include benchmarks, targets, and data collection timepoints.
2. Confirm/update Curriculum Mapping for each Degree Program. All degree programs should have updated curriculum maps to identify alignment between course objectives and program outcomes. Ensure faculty have added course objectives (click “Course Objectives”) and have mapped those course objectives to program outcomes (click “Mapping”). To view results, click “Program Depth of Coverage” and “Course Overview.”
3. Input Direct Assessment of Student Learning Data for at least one program outcome. Based on your assessment plans, input data for at least one program outcome per degree program (Click “Student Learning Assessment” under Data Entry). Once inputted, click “Student Learning” under results to see the visuals.

For help with the app, see the Guide to the MU Educational Assessment App or contact the Director of Educational Assessment, Jonathan Cisco.

The annual update document should focus on the following (See example section here):

1. Notable Findings from Direct Evidence of Student Learning
   Report any key findings from assessments conducted for at least one program outcome per degree program. Analyze the findings using the visualizations for direct assessment of student learning data and curriculum mapping to identify potential areas of improvement.
2. Data-Driven Curricular Changes
   Describe any planned curriculum changes based on the direct assessment data of student learning. This may include modifying course content, adjusting the frequency of specific topics, expanding content areas, or reevaluating teaching or assessment strategies.

Note: Plan to assess at least one program outcome per year to ensure all program outcomes are evaluated within a 5-year period. This annual rotation ensures continuous improvement and alignment of program outcomes with student learning needs. For additional guidance, visit the “Assessment of Student Learning.”

For a walkthrough of the MU Educational Assessment App, see here.

[Updated 12/3/24]