Program Assessment, WASC and Cal Poly Pomona

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Program Assessment, WASC and Cal Poly Pomona

• Bob Hurt
• Faculty Associate for Program Assessment and
  Academic Program Review

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Outline

• Assessment in the WASC standards
• Local WASC concerns
• Progress made
• Ongoing issues

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Assessment in the WASC standards (1 of 4)

• Defining institutional purposes ensuring
  educational objectives
• There is no single right way to approach
  assessment.
• Assessment must be connected to institutional
  purpose and educational objectives.
• The standard calls on us to develop indicators
  and evidence to determine if were meeting our
  own objectives.

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Assessment in the WASC standards (2 of 4)

• Achieving educational objectives through core
  functions
• Degrees are defined by what students know / feel
  / are able to do, not by an accumulation of
  courses.
• Expectations for learning are widely shared
  throughout the campus community.
• We consistently review programs and demonstrate
  that our graduates achieve our educational
  objectives.

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Assessment in the WASC standards (3 of 4)

• Developing applying resources organizational
  structures to ensure sustainability
• Faculty development activities are strong and
  consistent.
• Decision-making processes are transparent.
• The faculty exercise academic leadership.

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Assessment in the WASC standards (4 of 4)

• Creating an organization committed to learning
  improvement
• Ongoing reflection is a key element of
  organizational culture, with meaningful faculty
  involvement being essential.
• Planning is informed by qualitative and
  quantitative data.
• The university employs a deliberate set of
  quality assurance processes.
• Various stakeholder groups are involved in
  assessing program effectiveness.

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Local WASC concerns

• Developing a coordinated approach for assessment
• Developing a shared understanding of priorities
  vision

• Implementing the new GE program
• Demonstrating the impact of diversity initiatives
  on student retention and other objectives

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Progress made

• Program assessment in lieu of APR
• Faculty associate for assessment and APR
• Program assessment web page

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Progress made

• Programs from every college developing assessment
  plans
• Assessment of non-academic units
• Administrative affairs
• Advancement
• Student affairs

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Ongoing issues