Academic Policy  1630.10 

Student Learning Outcomes and Degree Program Assessment

The University of Arkansas program for assessing student academic achievement in degree programs is grounded in principles unanimously approved by the Campus Faculty in 1993 and subsequently endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education of the North Central Association in 1995. Program assessment aligns with the university’s mission to provide students with access to a comprehensive and internationally competitive public education, and to foster student success across a wide spectrum of disciplines. It is also required by the university’s accrediting body, The Higher Learning Commission. Since 1998, program assessment has been governed by Academic Policy 1630.10, which requires colleges and schools to submit annual reports on the assessment of student academic achievement.

In fall of 2014, the policy was revised to emphasize continuous improvement. Under the revised policy, academic programs are required to maintain an assessment plan and submit an annual assessment report to the Director of Curriculum Review and Program Assessment by June 1 each year.

Assessment Plans

Each academic program maintains an assessment plan that documents educational achievement and continuous improvement through ongoing assessment of student learning. The plan outlines program-specific goals, measurable student learning outcomes, and a clearly defined timeline for implementation, data collection and analysis, and the use of assessment findings to inform program-level changes and to document accomplishments. Any substantive changes to either a degree program or to the assessment process require submission of a revised assessment plan. Programs are encouraged to use the Assessment Plan template when developing or updating their assessment plans, except when assessment requirements are governed by an external accrediting body.

Program Goals 

Program goals are broad statements of what the program intends to accomplish and what a student will be able to do upon completion of the program. These goals are aligned with the mission of the university and college.

Student Learning Outcomes

Student learning outcomes define the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students are expected to demonstrate upon completion of a program. These outcomes are directly aligned with and support the achievement of the program’s goals.

Assessment Reports

Each year, assessment reports for every academic program are submitted to the dean of the college or school and forwarded to the director of Curriculum Review and Program Assessment. The report includes the results of analyses of student learning outcome assessments, any changes made or planned to degree or certificate programs based on those analyses, and any changes made or planned to the assessment process.  Programs are encouraged to use the Annual Academic Assessment Report template when preparing their reports, except when assessment requirements are governed by an external accrediting body.

Assessment plans and annual reports are published on the Office of the Provost’s Academic Program Assessment webpage: https://provost.uark.edu/assessment/academic-program-assessment.php.

Updated

5/15/26

5/10/24
10/28/20
Reformatted for Web 10/14/14
6/1/08