Page Description

The following page is a two column layout. Page sections are identified with headers. The footer contains update and contact information.

Learn More

Student Learning at University of Vermont

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.

In addition to the evaluation of student learning in individual courses, assessment of formal learning outcomes at UVM is conducted primarily at the level of the undergraduate major where the establishment of learning goals has become widespread across campus. Assessment methods vary and include the evaluation of student work in capstone or other advanced courses, in portfolios, performance on standardized exams, and analysis of survey data collected from graduating seniors and alumni. Most programs use multiple methods of assessment and have used these data to strengthen course content, modify course and degree requirements, develop new courses and programs, and improve teaching.

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; UVM's report on their pilot experiences is available here. 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.

This university is in the process of collecting and analyzing learning outcomes test results.

#