Assessment of undergraduate student learning at Michigan Tech is handled at a variety of levels:
- Essential Education
- Degree Program
- Student Affairs Programs
Key groups and their roles:
- Assessment Council: charged with oversight and integration of assessment activities across campus, including balancing the requirements of professional accreditation with undergraduate student-learning goals.
- Essential Ed Steering Committee: oversees and implements the university’s general education curriculum, referred to as Essential Education.
Essential Education Assessment
Essential Education is Michigan Technological University's forward-thinking, student-centered core education curriculum structured around four learning goals and 12 Essential Abilities.
Students are introduced to the Essential Abilities in the Essential Ed core courses required for all students in their first two years at Michigan Tech.
For more information, refer to Ongoing Improvement Approach for Essential Ed Program.
Degree Program Assessment
All degree programs have established clear and measurable learning goals that identify what students should know or be able to do by the time they graduate from the program. These program learning goals are disciplinary goals to be achieved through the degree program’s curriculum.
While degree programs are encouraged to provide opportunities to reinforce the Essential Abilities associated with the Essential Education Program, only degree program learning outcomes are assessed as part of the degree program assessment process.
Examples of Program and Course Level Goals
The table below provides an example of different levels of communication-based student learning goals.
| Program level | Degree Program Learning Goal: Students who complete the business major will communicate effectively to professional and lay audiences using the common business formats. |
|---|---|
| Course Level | Course Learning Goal (as might appear on a syllabus): Students who complete this finance course will be able to write accurate and complete financial reports. |
The Syllabus Requirement for All Courses at Michigan Tech states that every course taught at Michigan Tech must have clearly stated learning goals or objectives. These learning goals should align with degree program goals or USLGs. Proposals for new courses should identify which USLGs and/or program learning goals are met by the course. Refer to Creating a Learner-Centered Course Syllabus for additional information.
Student Affairs Programs
The Office of Student Affairs and Advancement has their own mission, goals, and learning outcomes for activities they manage. The Student Affairs and Advancement Assessment Team is responsible for assessing those programs and conducting campus-wide surveys.