Assessment of Graduate Student Learning Outcomes APUS is committed to student learning assessment and its impact on the quality of teaching and learning. The learning outcomes assessment program at APUS: - provides students with useful information about their current skills, values, and knowledge;
- enables the University System to evaluate the effectiveness of its academic programs in terms of achieving the desired learning outcomes for its students; and
- is used for continuous improvement at all levels of the institution. The University System uses a variety of direct and indirect assessment measures to document student learning at the graduate level. Periodic surveys, standardized national testing, comprehensive examinations, and other assessment measures are used to improve on the quality of teaching and learning at APUS. The assessment of student learning at APUS is guided by the student learning outcomes posted in the catalog, Website, and course syllabi.
Learning outcomes assessment for the graduate student is conducted at the institutional, degree program, and classroom level. Each level is designed to complement each other, providing a comprehensive view of the effectiveness of the University System’s academic programs. At the institutional level, student learning is assessed on the broad and overarching objectives that students are expected to upon completion of an academic program, regardless of discipline. Student participation in periodic surveys and interviews are required to evaluate the effectiveness of students achieving desired learning outcomes at the university level. At the degree program level, student learning is assessed on the skills, values, and knowledge that students are expected to know upon graduation from a particular degree program. Student participation in a comprehensive examination course ensures that the student has proficient knowledge of the substantive content expected of a professional in the respective field. Subject-specific standardized national testing is used to measure student learning at the degree program level. Currently, Business Administration (MBA) students are administered tests as part of the graduation process. The tests’ results are used only to inform the University System and the student of the student’s performance in a given subject area; their results are not calculated in the student’s grade point average or considered as part of the student’s academic performance. Students will be informed in advance if they are required to participate in these tests. Writing rubrics are also used to evaluate the effectiveness of students achieving desired learning outcomes at the degree program level. At the classroom level, student learning is assessed on the skills, values, and knowledge that students are expected to know upon completion of a course. At this level, faculty members summarize the assessment results for the entire class, rather than for individual students, and these results are used to continually improve on courses and teaching effectiveness. Course developed tests, student participation in newsgroup discussions, student research projects/papers, and writing assignments are some of the requirements used to evaluate the effectiveness of APUS students achieving desired learning outcomes at classroom level. End of course survey results are also used to monitor and develop teaching effectiveness, and maintain and improve on the overall quality and soundness of programs and courses. The American Public University System uses a variety of assessment activities designed to document student learning. Students are required to participate in learning outcomes assessment activities at APUS, and will be given adequate notice of course and non-course related assessment activities they are responsible for completing. APUS is committed to protecting the privacy of its students. This includes ensuring the confidentiality of student work submitted for assessment as well as the feedback resulting from assessment activities. For more information, the APUS Learning Outcomes Assessment website establishes the framework for the conduct of student assessment across the institution. Assessment related questions can be directed to the Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment, ctla@apus.edu.
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