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| No. | Indicator | Data Type | Measure | Best Practice in Place? | Evaluative Statement or Data for Quantitative Measures | Location of Policy/survey data/reports |
| 8 | Existence and operation of a formal, comprehensive, and effective institutional assessment and accountability program | BP | Student learning | Yes | CU-Denver has been formally assessing outcomes and publishing the results since 1989-90. Outcome goals and assessment procedures are developed and implemented by the faculty in the schools and colleges. CU-Denver assesses student learning, student persistence and completion of educational objectives, transfer rates, after graduation performance, and student satisfaction. CU-Denver does not assess placement rates since 85% of students are already employed. CU-Denver's assessment plan has been designated by the North Central Association as a model for other higher education institutions. A variety of outcomes assessment methods is used, including: (1) capstone courses which integrate the skills, concepts, and knowledge accumulated over the course of study in a program or discipline; (2) embedded questions are incorporated into final examinations in courses; (3) papers and projects are specifically reviewed in terms of a program's outcomes goals; (4) value-added instruments are the same test given at the beginning and end of a course; (5) portfolio analyses evaluate the work of students; (6) surveys collect opinion and factual data from students, alumni, and employers.
CU-Denver's assessment efforts have led to a variety of programmatic and curricular changes: changing course work in certain major fields of study; enriching laboratory experiments; increasing the use of computer laboratories in course work; improving course offerings in particular aspects of certain major fields of study; improving upper division course offerings; giving greater emphasis to students' writing skills; creating Visiting Lecturer programs. Methods of assessment have also changed: replacing standardized tests with surveys; adopting multiple faculty evaluators of student papers, national tests, and minimum grade requirements in place of methods that did not adequately assess student learning. CU-Denver is generally satisfied with its performance. Outcomes assessment helps us identify areas where improvement in students' learning is needed and, in most cases, indicates what type of change needs to be made. |
Office of Academic and Student Affairs |
| BP | Student persistence and completion of educational objectives | Yes | ||||
| BP | Placement rates | No | ||||
| BP | Transfer rates | Yes | ||||
| BP | After-graduation performance | Yes | ||||
| BP | Student satisfaction | Yes |
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