BUFFALO STATE, State University of New York College Portrait

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Students
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Admissions
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Classes and Campus Life
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Student Experiences
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Majors, Graduation and Next Steps
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Student Success & Progress
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Student Learning Outcomes
Figure out what learning gains to expect in critical thinking, writing, and other important subjects at Buffalo State.

Student Learning at BUFFALO STATE, State University of New York

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.

Student learning is assessed at Buffalo State in all areas of Intellectual Foundations (general education) on a rotating three-year cycle and in major programs every five years. This assessment primarily involves assessing student work according to standards determined by the faculty. Also, in certain areas standardized nationally benchmarked exams are given.

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 4-year pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.

As the pilot project comes to a close, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot project within the College Portrait and to disclose the results to the public. All VSA participating institutions are encouraged to report their results; Buffalo State reported results from one of the VSA-approved value-added SLO assessments below. Institutions who have not posted SLO results from one of the three VSA approved value-added pilot measures by the end of September 2012 are required to report their results here.

2010 - 11 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.

Test Administration Process

Test Information

Performance Task 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: 1024
Senior Score: 1163
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.

Average EAA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 979
Senior Score: 986

Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students

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

Freshman Score: 1032
Senior Score: 1160
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.