The PLOAP (Program Level Outcomes Assessment Plan)
In order to establish a consistent and strong assessment foundation campus-wide, each program completes a Program Level Outcomes Assessment Plan (PLOAP). The goal of creating an academic program assessment plan is to facilitate continuous program level improvement. A program level outcomes assessment plan provides faculty with a clear understanding of how their program is assessed (e.g. what is being measured and when, who will collect the data, and how the results will be used) with the ultimate goal to foster student learning. A quality assessment plan articulates:
- Specific program goals
- Measurable student learning outcomes
- Direct and indirect assessment methods used to demonstrate the attainment of each outcome
- Well‐articulated plan for timely implementation
- Clear timeline including the intervals at which evidence is collected and reviewed
- Individual(s) responsible for the collection and review of evidence
- Plan for use of findings to inform, confirm, and support program level change
Guidelines for program level assessment planning and step-by-step instructions are available in the Academic Program Assessment Planning Guide.
Developing a PLOAP
RIT academic programs use a common PLOAP template which was developed collaboratively by the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee. A program assessment plan should be developed collaboratively among faculty who teach in the program. Huba and Freed (2000) established the following key questions to consider when establishing an assessment plan.
- Does the program have clear, explicitly stated goals that can guide the assessment of the program?
- What opportunities do we provide for students so that they can achieve our intended student learning outcomes?
- What forms of assessment do we use to collect student learning outcomes data?
Use the RIT Rubric for Academic Program Level Assessment Plan to help determine at which stage your program level outcomes assessment plan is.
Sample PLOAPs
100% of RIT programs have PLOAPs. Below are sampless of program assessment plans by college or degree granting unit.
College of Engineering Technology (CET)
BS in Media Arts and Technology
MS in Packaging Science
College of Health Sciences and Technology (CHST)
College of Liberal Arts
National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)
AAS in Administrative Support Technology
Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS)
Program Level Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Data Collection
There are a variety of ways to collect program-level student learning outcomes assessment data. Program Directors and Department Chairs determine the best method within their programs. Program faculty contribute to gathering data from individual courses or program-level experiences (senior thesis and project, capstone, or experiential learning). The attached Data Collection Form is available as one method to support the collection of assessment data.
Resources
Quick Guides and Samples:
- Guide to Program Assessment for New Chairs and Directors
- Let's Get This PLOAP Started - A Quick Guide
- Program Assessment Plan Implementation Checklist
- Benchmark Quick Guide
Template and Forms
Comprehensive Guide and Rubric:
For questions related to developing a PLOAP, contact