Current Assessment Activities
Assessment at Capital University is under the guidance of the Institutional Effectiveness Committee. A range of assessment initiatives are underway across the university.
Signature Learning
The seven learning outcomes are measured in both curricular and co-curricular experiences. Each year the Signature Learning Committee, in consultation with the Institutional Effectiveness Committee, identifies two or three Signature Learning Outcomes that programs are encouraged to assess in capstone or upper-level experiences, in addition to specific program learning outcomes. Communities of Practice (Community Engagement, Ethics and Society, First Year Seminar, Culture and Society, Study Away, Internship, Social Justice) are active in defining relevant outcomes and developing effective assessment procedures.
2019-2022 Signature Learning Outcomes Results (PDF)
Program Assessment Activities
Assessment within academic programs and student development units are outlined in the Assessment Plans (PDF) and Assessment Reports (PDF).
Annual Assessment Report
The Annual Assessment Report outlines the assessment initiatives and results in the academic year.
2021-22 Annual Assessment Report (PDF)
Past Reports
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
Capital University participates annually in the National Survey of Student Engagement. First-year students and seniors respond to questions about academics; high-impact practices, such as internships, student research, and community engagement; experiences with diversity, and co-curricular experiences. These responses provide indirect evidence of achievement of learning outcomes.
A Focus on Student Learning
In 2011, Capital University initiated the Showcase of Student Learning, and annual poster session for faculty and staff to present examples of innovative teaching, student learning, and outcomes assessment. As the campus culture of assessment matured, this event has evolved from an annual gathering to a monthly presentation by faculty and staff during the Student Learning and Development (SLD) leadership meetings, which are attended by department chairs, deans, directors, the provost team, and other SLD leaders. In 2023, the Showcase was rebranded to 5 in 5. At the start of the SLD meetings, faculty and staff present innovative teaching, student learning, and outcomes assessment in five minutes using five slides.