What is assessment? Assessment is the continuous, ongoing process of student learning analysis to determine if academic programs are meeting the goals outlined for student learning.  It involves devising measurable program learning outcomes, establishing assessment tools to measure the outcomes, gathering and interpreting the evidence, making recommendations from the findings, and creating and implementing improvement plans from those findings. It is a never-ending process of evaluation and improvement to assure that students know and are able to do what we want them to know and do.

The following steps outline the assessment process. These steps facilitate the necessary process of “closing the loop” for program improvements.

Palomba and Banta define the term assessment as

…….the systematic collection, review, and use of information about education programs undertaken for the purpose of improving student learning and development.

(Palomba, C.A. & Banta, T.W. Assessment Essentials: Planning, Implementing, and Improving Assessment in Higher Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1999, p. 4)

The Higher Learning Commission defines assessment of student learning as a participatory, iterative process that:

• Provides data/information you need on your students’ learning
• Engages you and others in analyzing and using this data/information to confirm and improve teaching and learning
  • Produces evidence that students are learning the outcomes you intended
  • Guides you in making educational and institutional improvements
  • Evaluates whether changes made improve/impact student learning, and documents the learning and your efforts

(From “Student Learning, Assessment and Accreditation: Criteria and Contexts”, presented at Making a Difference in Student Learning: Assessment as a   Core Strategy, a workshop from the Higher Learning Commission, July 26-28, 2006.)

Evangel University is committed to creating and maintaining a “culture of assessment” throughout the institution. Student learning is a priority and the University endeavors to assure a high quality education through a continuous process of assessment and improvement.