Program and Discipline Outcomes Assessment

Program/Discipline learning outcomes assessment is a continuous improvement process aimed at understanding and improving student learning at the program or course sequence level. It answers the question, “How well have students learned what we expect them to learn?” The results are then applied by faculty and other stakeholders to determine how well students are achieving the outcomes of a program or defined set of courses, and used in making decisions about improving the curriculum.

Student learning outcomes assessment provides data about learning in:

• General education in transfer degrees and the Oregon Transfer Module.
  (See Lane's Core Abilities Outcomes statements*.pdf)
• Career technical certificates and degrees.
• Non-credit career training and pre-licensing curricula.
• Developmental course sequences key to student success.
• Other sequences of instruction.

Program/Discipline Assessment tools:

Direct assessments of learning in cognitive, affective and kinesthetic outcomes

• externally validated exams or technical skills assessments
• licensure exams
• common exams or embedded questions
• capstone projects
• juried performances
• portfolios of student work

Indirect assessments of learning

• focus groups
• exit interviews
• surveys of alumni
• surveys of employers

Steps to Successful Program/Discipline Assessment