Assessment of Student Learning
At West Virginia State University, assessment of student learning is an integral part of learning and teaching effectiveness. Students are major participants in the assessment process, and are expected to actively contribute to the University's comprehensive assessment program at the classroom, program, and institutional levels.
Student involvement in assessment activities begins upon initial enrollment and systematically continues through the student's graduation. Students are expected to participate in three key areas of assessment at WVSU, namely tin their major field of study, in general education, and in institutional research regarding student learning.
Assessment of the Major Field of Study
To demonstrate competency in the student's major field of study, each academic program has developed a set of program-level outcomes, skills or knowledge that each student should master by the time they graduate. The attainment of such outcomes is assessed through a variety of methods appropriate to a given discipline (e.g., portfolios, standardized exams, surveys, senior projects, etc.). These outcomes are assessed within the curriculum via course-embedded assessment and occur throughout the student's academic career, with summative assessments culminating in the senior seminar or capstone courses.
Assessment of General Education
Students are also expected to demonstrate competencies in general education, specifically the Eight Common Learning Experiences, which form the foundation of the general education curriculum. These Common Learning Experiences are assessed using a variety of methods (e.g., writing samples, standardized tests, surveys, etc.).
Assessment Research on Campus
In addition to demonstrating academic mastery and excellence in their academic field and in general education, students are also expected to assist WVSU in research regarding student learning and teaching effectiveness. Specifically, students are required to complete the Graduate Exit Survey (GES). The GES is given to seniors as they prepare to be graduated from the college, and it allows students to give an objective assessment of the services they have received while attended WVSU. Students may also be asked to participate in assessment activities designed to study a specific research question the faculty, staff, or administration has regarding student learning, motivation, satisfaction, etc. These assessments may take may forms such as focus groups, incoming freshmen surveys, or retention studies depending upon the particular research question being studied.
These assessments culminate into an accurate and comprehensive representation of student learning and institutional effectiveness. Using this information, faculty, staff, and administrators create strategic plans to improve the quality of student learning at West Virginia State University and to meet the unique needs of our student population via the academic program, administrative departments, and/or other appropriate services.
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