The assessment of student learning is an integral part of the teaching and learning process. Washburn University strives to create an inclusive, holistic, and collaborative culture of assessment surrounding all curricular and co-curricular activities in which students participate.

Students share the responsibility for the evaluation of student learning by completing assessment activities which provide the data required for reliable analysis of the curricular and co-curricular activities which are undertaken.

Valid and reliable assessment is important for three reasons:

1. To improve student learning.
2. To provide accountability to stakeholders, such as students, parents, legislators, accrediting agencies, and the public.
3. To assist in the process of accreditation, both of the University and of individual programs.

To foster this culture of assessment, Washburn University has created a university-wide assessment committee. The Assessment Committee supports the university’s commitment to excellence in teaching, scholarly work, and quality academic and professional programs through the collection, analysis, and dissemination of evidence of student learning. The committee is dedicated to ensuring that the entire university community collaboratively shares the responsibility for student learning. To help the University Assessment Committee satisfy its mission, the following are shared expectations:

• Every program/unit/major has a mission statement.
• The program/unit/major ensures the mission statement is shared with all constituents.
• The program/unit/major periodically reviews the mission statement to ensure it is appropriate and compatible with the University’s mission.
• Every program/unit/major has student learning objectives (outcomes), which are measurable.
• Evidence is consistently collected and accessible to appropriate internal and external constituents, who are given opportunities to collaborate on assessment practices.
• Evidence is regularly analyzed (i.e., the program/unit has an established a schedule for review of evidence).
• The program/unit/major has an appropriate mechanism to institute changes which are suggested by the evidence.