The Excellence in Student Learning Outcomes Award is given to recognize an academic degree program that is committed to best practices in assessment, improving student learning, and is dedicated to continuous program improvement. Our 2018 winner is the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering program in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
The Chemical Engineering program was selected based on their commitment to engage faculty, students, alumni and employers in the assessment process and demonstration of using assessment results to inform program improvement. The faculty are integral to the program’s assessment model, and use multiple direct and indirect measures including course assignments, exams, focus groups, and co-op evaluations to assess learning. The program emphasized that assessing student learning is a “natural part of the program’s day-to-day operations.” Careful planning resulted in a streamlined and sustainable assessment process. Examples of how the program used their student learning evidence to inform course development, enhance instructional support for both writing and reading, and increase MATLAB training time to enrich the academic experience clearly demonstrates that it consistently and effectively monitors student performance and makes informed programmatic improvements.