University of Colorado at Colorado Springs College Portrait

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Students
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Admissions
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College Costs & Financial Aid
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College Cost Estimator
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Classes and Campus Life
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Student Experiences
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Majors, Graduation and Next Steps
See which majors are most popular at UCCS and what recent graduates plan to do after earning their bachelor's degree.
Student Success & Progress
Discover how many students who start at UCCS finish their bachelor's degree and how long it takes.
Student Learning Outcomes
Figure out what learning gains to expect in critical thinking, writing, and other important subjects at UCCS.
UCCS Bulletin

Student Learning at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is committed to meaningful assessment that results in program improvement and student learning. Colorado institutions of higher education are required by legislative statute to design and implement "a systematic program to assess the knowledge, capacities, and skills developed by students in academic and co-curricular programs" (HB1187, CRS 23-13-101, Article 13, passed 1985). In addition, the accrediting body for UCCS, the North Central Association, expects that "a program of assessment of student academic achievement exists and that its usefulness be a key indicator of how well an institution" can document and improve its educational effectiveness (NCA Handbook of Accreditation, 2nd Ed., p. 42). Accordingly, the Student Achievement Assessment Committee (SAAC), composed of faculty, staff and student members, oversees the implementation and advancement of assessment of student achievement and student learning at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Learning Assessment Examples

Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes

Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.

2009-09 Results from the ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP)

The ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, and written communication and reports separate scores on critical thinking and written communication.

Test Administration Process

Test Information

Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students

The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.

Freshman Score: 110
Senior Score: 113
ETS score range: 100 to 130

Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 23
Senior Score: 23

Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1067
Senior Score: 1090

Written Communication Results for First-time, Full-time Students