Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania College Portrait

Shippensburg University is a state institution of higher education whose educational mission is to develop the students’ intellectual capabilitiesand to train them in professional fields that strengthen their potentials as productive citizens of the world. The University curriculum centers on courses from the arts and sciences that strive to produce individuals who are able to think logically, to read critically, to write clearly, to express ideas succinctly, and to recognize the importance of other cultures and their languages (Undergraduate Catalog 2011-2013).

With this in mind, all Shippensburg University’s programs have developed academic experiences linked with purposeful student learning outcomes and with assessment tasks to ascertain how much learning takes place at the institution. Assessment results over the past two years have demonstrated that Shippensburg students are attaining institutional and program goals. Departments have reported that, on average, 80% of their students have achieved departmental benchmarks. This means that the students are passing professional certification exams, they are excelling in research projects, capstone courses and internships.

Every year, there are campus-wide events in which Shippensburg students demonstrate their knowledge, skills and dispositions. For instance, in the spring over 300 students and faculty participate in the Undergraduate Research Fair. Last year, the organizing committee pilot tested an assessment rubric to collect data on critical thinking. Results were not conclusive because the rubric could not be used effectively across all of the projects within the sample group. However, some data indicated that the majority of the students in the sample were using research protocols and were also analyzing and synthesizing information from primary and secondary sources. This spring, a revised rubric will be implemented and hopefully data could be shared among all of the departments and programs that participate in the fair.

Another multi-disciplinary initiative where assessment data are collected is the Assessment Day (previously known as Exhibition Day). At this event, student teachers from all of the K-12 teacher education programs present evidence of their pedagogical practices and how these practices have impacted K-12 student learning. Methods instructors use a rubric to determine if student teachers are connecting theory to practice effectively. Data results from the past two years indicate that at least 80% of the students meet the expectations of the Teacher Education program. Individual programs use assessment data to revamp curricula and/or implement new teaching approaches to advance student teachers’ professional preparation. It is worth noting that 90% of the student teachers pass the PRAXIS test on a first attempt.

Students at Shippensburg are introduced to the concept of High Impact practices and assessment from the beginning of their studies. Over the past four years, the Academic Day committee has made efforts to integrate Service Learning (SL) to the array of activities that entering freshmen and transfer students do as part of Orientation Week. At the end of the SL project, participating students answer a survey and/or take part in brief focus group sessions. Data overwhelmingly reveal that these students feel more connected with the institution as a result of participating in SL experience before the semester starts.

In conclusion, assessment of SLOs at Shippensburg is taking place and results demonstrate that the institution is achieving the key academic tenets of its mission.

Learning Assessment Examples