Academic Policy  1630.10 

Student Academic Achievement and Degree Program Outcomes

The University of Arkansas program for the assessment of student academic achievement in degree programs is based on principles first approved unanimously by the Campus Faculty in 1993 and approved by the Commission on Higher Education of the North Central Association in 1995. It is consistent with the U of A mission goal of "strengthening academic quality and reputation by enhancing and developing programs of excellence in teaching, learning, research, and outreach," and the institutional responsibility for evaluating academic quality and the ways and extent to which educational goals are being achieved in academic programs. This program has been governed by Academic Policy 1630.10 since 1998 from which time annual reports on assessment of student academic achievement have been required from colleges and schools.

Beginning in the fall of 2014, the policy was revised in order to seek continuous improvement, academic programs are expected to maintain an assessment plan and present an annual assessment report.  The reports are to be submitted to the Director of Curriculum Review and Program Assessment each year no later than June 1.

Assessment Plans

Each academic program maintains an assessment plan.  Each plan will demonstrate educational achievement and improvement through ongoing assessment of student learning.  An academic assessment plan reflects specific program goals, measurable student learning outcomes, and a clearly defined timeline for implementation, data collection and analysis, and use of findings to support program-level changes and accomplishments.  If any changes are made to the assessment process, a new plan needs to be submitted.  See the Assessment Plan Template.

Program Goals 

Program goals are broad general statements of what the program intends to accomplish and describes what a student will be able to do after completing the program.  The program goals are linked to the mission of the university and college.

Student Learning Outcomes

Student learning outcomes are defined in terms of the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students will know and be able to do as a result of completing a program.  These student learning outcomes are directly linked to the accomplishment of the program goals.

Assessment Reports

Each year, assessment reports are submitted to the dean of the college/school for each academic program and forwarded to the director.  The report includes the results of analysis of assessment of student learning outcomes, any changes to degree/certificate planned or made on the basis of the assessment and analysis, and any changes to the assessment process made or planned.  See the  Annual Academic Assessment Report Template.

Each plan and annual report is published on the Office of the Provost’s Academic Program Assessment webpage:  https://provost.uark.edu/about/assessment/academic-program-assessment.php.