Program Assessment Practices
UMD undergraduate and graduate curricular programs:
- Determine program learning outcomes (PLOs) and map each one to one UMD Undergraduate Student Learning Outcome or Graduate Learning Goal Category as appropriate to the programs. A learning outcome is a measurable statement of how student learning goals are achieved, whereas a goal is what we want students to achieve.
- Post PLOs on their program websites.
- Maintain their assessment plan specifying details such as how and when program assessment is conducted throughout a 3-year assessment cycle.
- Include course student learning outcomes and related requirements on syllabi as stated on the UMD Syllabus Policy.
- Involve program faculty in the program assessment process, including discussions of assessment results and recommendations for improvement.
- Identify a Program Assessment Liaison (PAL) to serve as the contact for their program.
- Seek external judgment, advice, and/or benchmarks in assessments to provide additional perspective.
- Conduct assessment for PLOs consistent with their assessment plan.
- Inform program review using assessment results.
- Complete and submit the Annual Program Assessment Report (fall) based on assessment years stated on the assessment plan; the report is filed via the Campus Assessment Data form (fall).
- Participate in the annual program assessment peer review process (fall). PALs represent their respective programs at the review.
- Make changes to improve student learning within their program as indicated by student assessment data and faculty analysis. Student performance, as measured by assessment results over time, can provide evidence to determine effects of programmatic changes on student learning.
- Document programmatic changes through the Program Development Update (spring) and on Annual Program Assessment Reports as appropriate.
- Include comprehensive program assessment data as part of program review processes.