The Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Program (SLOAP) is part of a broad institutional review process required by Adler University. As an institution of higher education, student success is central to our mission and drives continuous improvement initiatives across the institution. The purpose of SLOAP is to provide faculty and academic leaders with aggregated data about student learning outcome attainment to inform continuous improvement initiatives within the program that will have a positive impact on instructional effectiveness and student learning.
Each program works with OIE to develop their Assessment Plans. OIE annually collects assessment data based on each programs’ Assessment Plan then aggregates, analyzes, and summarizes those data and provides academic leaders with a report on their students’ outcomes. Academic leaders are expected to review these with their faculty to develop action plans. OIE then assembles a final report that combines the program-level reports and provides a high-level overview of the results and action plans for consumption by University leadership and the Board of Trustees.
Each academic program’s Assessment Plan includes:
- The program’s Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), which are developed by faculty in accordance with the program’s mission, institutional Broad Learning Outcomes (BLOs), and programmatic accreditor requirements;
- A curriculum map that illustrates the alignment of SLOs and BLOs throughout the program’s curriculum and course learning objectives;
- A description of assessment methods used to measure student learning outcome attainment (typically includes course rubrics, comprehensive exams, practicum/internship supervisor evaluations, and capstone assignments);
- Minimum levels of achievement necessary to determine successful attainment of SLOs and BLOs (also called “Success Thresholds”);
- A schedule of data analysis that describes when faculty will analyze assessment data for each SLO, BLO, and/or course to “close the loop”. Data is always collected, but analysis follows a predetermined schedule to allow for a deeper dive and focused planning based on results.
The Assessment Plan demonstrates faculty involvement through responsibility and ownership in its development, implementation, and oversight. Such oversight is coordinated by the vice president of Academic Affairs as well as the director of Institutional Effectiveness.
Office of Institutional Effectiveness
OIE@adler.edu
Broad Learning Outcomes
Adler University has three Broad Learning Outcomes (BLOs) that apply to graduates of all academic programs at the University and are incorporated into each program’s curriculum:
- Competence in Practice: Demonstrate satisfactory levels of competence based on knowledge of theory, research, and practice appropriate to the programmatic areas and degree level sought. Exhibit competence in individual and cultural differences, and adhere to the ethical standards of professional practice, including the recognition and necessity of a commitment to life-long learning.
- Integration of Science and Research in Practice: The ability to make appropriate use of research literature, methods, and systematic critical inquiry to conduct ethical professional practice using scientific methods.
- Social Responsibility in Practice: The ability to apply principles of social justice to analyze issues from a structural and systemic perspective and advocate/intervene at these levels to remove barriers to health and well-being in collaboration with individuals, communities, and organizations. Demonstrate the ability to critically examine current practice and engage as a change agent in activities that challenge and transform the status quo.
Annual Assessment Cycle
OIE continuously collects assessment data each term via course rubrics completed by faculty in Canvas, practicum/internship evaluations completed by supervisors, scoring on qualifying and comprehensive exams completed by faculty, and other assessment methods predetermined by the program through their Assessment Plan.
Work is underway to enhance reporting procedures for the wealth of data collected for SLOAP.
The Aggregated SLOAP Rubric Data dashboard is updated at the close of each term with data collected via course rubrics in Canvas. Please request access if you don’t already have it.
