Welcome to Assessment! Assessment of student academic achievement is an ongoing process that focuses on understanding and improving student learning. It involves: Setting measureable educational objectives (specific knowledge, skills or attitudes that students are expected to achieve) Gathering, analyzing and interpreting data about student- learning outcomes Using the resulting information to document, explain and improve performance Making decisions about programs and/or changes in curriculum to enhance student learning Assessment of programs and students is an integral part of the academic and administrative process at Lincoln University. Assessment at Lincoln University serves three major purposes: Improvement of student learning and instruction Accomplishment of institutional mission Documentation of the students' achievement of educational goals Lincoln University utilizes a variety of direct and indirect measures to assess student-learning outcomes in the General Education Program and the Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Programs. Assessment of student-learning outcomes is conducted both formatively and summatively. Direct measures require students to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities (eg: standardized exams, locally developed exams, juried review of essays, capstone experiences, portfolios, performance on state and national licensure exams, external review of exhibitions and performances in the arts). Indirect measures ask students to reflect on their learning rather than to demonstrate it (eg: alumni, employer and student surveys, exit interviews of graduates, gradute follow-up studies, retention and transfer studies, graduation rates and transfer rates). Formative assessment involves the gathering of information about student-learning outcomes during the progression of a course or program to improve student-learning (eg: teacher observations, analysis of student work, feedback on assignments, group discussions, portfolios, oral presentations, peer assessment, student journals). Summative assessment involves the gathering of information about student-learning at the conclusion of a course or program to improve student-learning and/or to meet accountability demands (eg: standardized senior exit exams, locally developed senior exit exams, juried review of essays, senior exit interviews, performance on state and national licensure exams). Assessment of programs and student-learning outcomes is important because: The assessment of programs and student-learning outcomes is the best way for Lincoln University to determine if it is fulfilling its missions and goals. Assessment results are used to evaluate and improve the quality of Lincoln University's educational programs. Lincoln University is required to report results of various surveys and assessments to the Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education (CBHE) and also to various accrediting agencies including the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Higher Education Commission of the North Central Associaion (NCA) and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Assessment results influence legislative funding decisions and affect how Lincoln University is viewed as an institution of higher education.