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Transparency Framework

We use the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment's Transparency Framework as our guide. We strive to provide internal and external stakeholders with details on campus-level assessment efforts.

Student Learning Outcomes Statements

In 1997, Rose-Hulman began defining a set of campus-level student learning outcomes. This process began with an extensive review of the literature and best practices in higher education. The institution then sought input from faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders (e.g., alumni, industry professionals) to ensure these outcomes aligned with the institutional mission and values. By the end of the 1997-1998 academic year, Rose-Hulman faculty approved a set of 10 campus-level student learning outcomes. These outcomes and the approaches to assessment of student learning were instrumental in successful 2000 and 2006 ABET accreditation cycles, as well as a Higher Learning Commission visit in 2007.

After the 2006 ABET accreditation cycle, Rose-Hulman conducted a thorough review of campus-level student learning outcomes. Again, this included an extensive review of the literature and best practices, as well as input from faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders. These campus-level student learning outcomes have been in use since 2007 when they were approved by the faculty.

Click here for a complete list of criteria, primary traits, and additional information on campus-level student learning outcomes.

Campus-Level Assessment Plans

In 1997, in addition to defining campus-level student learning outcomes, Rose-Hulman developed a comprehensive campus-level assessment plan that allowed the institution to focus on continuous improvement and to meet the demands of program and institutional accrediting bodies. The cornerstone of this plan included the creation of the Rose-Hulman electronic portfolio system (REPS, now referred to as RosEval). RosEval allows for the direct assessment of authentic student coursework in communication, cultural and global awareness, ethics, and teamwork. In 1998, RosEval was first used to evaluate a set of student submissions as a pilot. Every year since then, Rose-Hulman has used RosEval to collect, evaluate, and report achievement in campus-level student learning outcomes to students, faculty, employers, graduate schools, and various program and institutional accrediting bodies.

Campus-Level Assessment Resources

Faculty and staff can access various assessment resources. This includes a glossary of assessment terms, a list of student learning outcomes and performance criteria, rubrics, reports, and links to relevant websites. Often, the Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment also facilitates workshops in collaboration with the Center for the Practice and Scholarship of Education. However, as a small institution with a team of assessment experts, Rose-Hulman places great emphasis on the human resources provided to faculty and staff in order to support their assessment efforts. Each year, the Director of Assessment consults with faculty and staff about their assessment needs. In most cases, the Director collaborates with these faculty and staff in developing and administering survey instruments, designing and facilitating interviews/focus groups, and analyzing data to help faculty and staff better understand student learning. To schedule a meeting, please contact Mitch Daniel.

Campus-Level Assessment Activities

In addition to the RosEval process, Rose-Hulman engages in many other campus-level assessment activities. This includes, but is not limited to, administering the Index of Learning Styles, participating in the National Survey of Student Engagement, and facilitating student focus groups. 

National Survey of Student Engagement

Evidence of Campus-Level Student Learning

Results from indirect and direct assessment measures are distributed to faculty and staff. For example, departmental results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) were distributed to internal stakeholders via email. Using the Report Builder feature on the NSSE interface, departmental reports were created and shared with department heads with a large enough sample size. These reports included an overview of the instrument, institutional comparisons, departmental mean and frequency comparisons, as well as resources for departments. IRPA staff adapted the NSSE 2015 Departmental Worksheet from the NSSE User’s Guide to better assist departments in their efforts.

Use of Campus-Level Student Learning Evidence

In 2015, Rose-Hulman faculty responded to the Faculty Survey of Assessment Culture, a survey administered by Sam Houston State University. More than 75% of Rose-Hulman faculty respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that “assessment data are used to identify the extent to which student learning outcomes are met.” This can be seen at the program level with programs evaluating RosEval results and making changes to their own curricula during annual retreats. Department heads then work with IRPA and CASO to address gaps.

Rose-Hulman has used data to improve campus-level assessment efforts, for example, how we assess teamwork. In 1998, the institution began by requiring teams to submit a report from a group project and then using that artifact to assess student learning. Then, thinking the artifact focused more on the product of the team’s work rather than on the students’ process of working together as a team, faculty members required students to submit minutes from one of their group meetings. These minutes were meant to show the specific process the team used to decide among several design alternatives. Feeling as though gaps still remained, faculty members began requiring students to record and submit videos of group meetings. An evaluation rubric was developed in 2013 based on the literature and tested by CASO. This allowed raters to observe students engaging in teamwork and authentically assess their performance.

National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an annual national survey designed to measure the “extent to which students and institutions are engaging in… effective teaching and learning activities.”  The data gathered from NSSE is used for improvement, benchmarking, accreditation and self-studies, retention, and strategic planning. Rose-Hulman freshman and senior students have participated in NSSE on a biannual schedule since 2000. Below are some key findings from the 2015 administration include:

For more information about the NSSE visit their website.

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Tuesday Strong

Matt Lovell

Senior Director, Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment

Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

See his bio

Contact

Alia Shuck

Timothy Chow

Director of Institutional Research
812-877-8910
Kirby Dereth

Dereth Kirby

Data Coordinator
+1 812-877-8131
Daniel Mitchel

Mitch Daniel, PhD

Director of Assessment
+1 812-877-8547

Contact Us

Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment
Myers Hall 240
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
5500 Wabash Avenue
Terre Haute, Indiana 47803
Phone: 812-877-8131
irpa@rose-hulman.edu
Launch Root Quad
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