Student Learning Assessment at Metropolitan 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.
Metropolitan State University participated in the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA). Metropolitan State has very few first time, full time freshmen. Therefore, we chose to assess primarily new students with fewer than 16 credits enrolled in a class that introduces them to the university, it's academic programs and services. Seniors were selected primarily from capstone courses. SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission, so we used the Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) as a proxy for SAT scores.
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 Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Performance Task 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: 1002
Senior Score: 1095
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 933
Senior Score: 976
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is what would be expected at an institution with students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1028
Senior Score: 1125
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 958
Senior Score: 971
