Student Learning Assessment at Kansas State University
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.
K-State is committed to student learning and to providing the highest quality educational experiences for its students. The university upholds assessment of student learning and the use of the results of assessment as key strategies to ensure continuous improvement of student leaning. Student learning outcomes at the university, degree program, and support program levels provide a shared vision of what we value and what students are expected to learn. Within a culture of reflection, scholarship, trust, and shared responsibilities, faculty, with participation from students, administrators, alumni, and K-State constituents, develop and implement ongoing and systematic assessment strategies to understand what, how much, and how students learn. Through the use of both direct and indirect sources of evidence of student performance, results from assessment guide collective actions for, among others, curricular change, better learning opportunities for students, improvement of teaching, and more effective academic support services.
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.
Results from the College Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP)
The Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) measures critical thinking and written communication using two test modules -- critical thinking and a writing essay. The critical thinking and writing scores are reported separately below.
Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is what would be expected at an institution with students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 0
Senior Score: 0
CAAP score range: 40 to 80
Writing Essay Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is what would be expected at an institution with students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 0
Senior Score: 0
CAAP score range: 1 to 6
