Annual Assessment Report Guide

University Council on Learning Assessment

Guide to Annual Assessment Report

Each JHU school will prepare and submit a learning assessment annual report to the University Council on Learning Assessment (UCLA) chair. The purpose of the annual report is: (1) to offer divisions the opportunity for self-evaluation of student learning assessment, (2) to note developments and improvements made in student learning outcomes and document plans for continuous improvement in the coming year, (3) to document use of learning assessment in course, program, and divisional improvement, (4) to provide information that will be included in an annual report to the provost regarding student learning assessment at JHU.

The following elements should be addressed in the Annual Report on Learning Assessment:

A. Organization and Leadership

• What positions or teams are responsible for learning assessment? (Describe the composition of the team or teams responsible for learning assessment and what programs are involved in the process. It may include program directors, faculty, Deans, etc. Depending on the process at the division)
• Which groups review learning assessment goals for each program? (Describe the composition of the team or teams responsible for review of learning assessment goals and objectives (important to include faculty and content experts) for each program and indicate if all programs are included in the review.)
• How are learning assessment results and supporting documentation stored for the programs and the division? (Identify spaces where results and documentation are stored and for which programs)

B. Supporting Resources

• What positions or teams are responsible for providing training and support for learning assessment? (Describe the composition of the team responsible for training learning assessment and what programs are involved in the process. Also describe if you have an established training cycle or is it training on demand?)
• Describe the staff resources available to support learning assessment. (Describe if the team responsible for training learning assessment is well staffed and has adequate resources for the needs of your division.)
• Describe the technical resources (e.g., software, including AEFIS & LMS (Learning Management System) used to support learning assessment.

C. Cycle of Assessment Activities

• Describe the schedule and annual cycle for collecting and reviewing learning assessment results. (Describe the cycle of collecting assessment activities and reviewing data annually. Include who is involved, and if it applies to all programs.)
• Describe how learning assessment results are included in course and program improvements. (Describe how your learning assessments results are included when discussing course and program improvements. Make sure you are referring to data from assessment of outcomes)
• Describe how learning assessment results are included in Program Reviews. (Describe if you have program reviews, the schedule of review, which programs are included and how learning assessment data are included in these reviews.)
• Describe how results from learning assessments influence decision-making and allocation of resources. (Describe how your learning assessments results are included when discussing budgets and resources to be purchased, and how these resources are allocated.)
• Describe how learning assessment is included in Budgeting and Planning. (Indicate if learning assessment is included in annual budget discussions.)

D. Assessment of Learning Assessment Processes

• Describe how assessments are periodically evaluated for effectiveness. (Describe if assessments in courses and activities are evaluated and assessed each time they are offered, how improvements are identified and applied, if the process applies to all assessments in all courses or to key assessments in some courses.)
• Review the plans for development and improvement as noted in last year’s report. Note progress made and ongoing challenges. (You may use the Program Improvement Plan Template to guide this process) (Describe if you have a program improvement plan based on learning assessment data, how are you identifying improvements for programs, who is responsible for completing the task, and what is the timeline? And if you are piloting results for effectiveness?)
• Describe any plans to develop and implement future learning assessment activities, initiatives, or resources.

E. Complete the provided template and submit to the UCLA chair by the requested date, no later than January 15 after the end of the calendar year.