Student Learning Outcomes Assessment

Announcement for Student Learning Outcomes Assessment (SLOA) Reports

The SLOA Report used by programs requires the assessment of three Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) and one Core Learning Outcome (CLO). The SLOA Report used by disciplines requires the assessment of one SLO and one CLO. Both reports include a summarization of the assessment process, assessment results, an analysis of that data, and actions that will be taken to improve student learning. These reports are the primary tool for capturing and reporting on programs and disciplines’ annual planning and assessment processes, which is aimed at promoting continuous improvement.
The program and discipline reporting of their assessment of SLOs and CLOs is an annual process, and this process is detailed in the Table below.

Schedule for Assessing Student Learning and Core Learning Outcomes and Reporting Results for NOVA Programs and Disciplines

Download Printable Schedule

Month	Tasks
April 2024	1. April 2024-Training for 2023-24 SLOA Reports and Tableau Dashboards (Dates TBD)
August 2024	1. August 1, 2024 – The Office of Strategic Insight (OSI) publishes the final 2023-24 assessment reports on its website for public viewing. 2. Program/discipline groups meet to discuss the following: 2023-24 assessment results. Determine actions, the 3 Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), and one Core Learning Outcome (CLO) that will be assessed in the 2024-25 academic year. Communicate the 2024-25 assessment plan to program faculty. Inform instructors of the SLOs, CLO, and course sections that will be assessed. Distribute/discuss the assessments and procedures. Communicate the plan for collecting data at the end of the semester. Ensure that NOVA Online, synchronous Zoom, and off-site dual enrollment sections are informed of any assessments they should be conducting. 3. OSI provides programs/disciplines with the 2024-25 Assessment Plan form.
September & October 2024	1. Training for 2023-24 SLOA Reports & Tableau dashboards (Dates TBD) 2. Programs and disciplines submit the 2024-25 SLOA Plan form to OSI, due on October 14, 2024. 3. Check-in with instructors to ensure they are conducting Fall assessments.
November 2024	Submit the 2023-24 SLOA Report for Programs or Disciplines to OSI by November 1, 2024: Programs/Disciplines should include blank copies of the assessments and rubrics with their submissions.
December 2024	OSI will review the first draft of the appropriate assessment report and return it with feedback & revision requests (if needed) by December 13, 2024: Programs/Disciplines will revise reports based on this feedback. Revisions & final reports are due on February 3, 2025.
January 2025	Meet with the program/discipline group to discuss the assessment results from the Fall semester: Determine actions for improvement for the Fall assessments (even if the target was met). Be sure to include (1) what actions will be implemented, (2) when they will be implemented, and (3) who will be responsible for implementation. This information will be included in next year’s assessment report. 2. Communicate the Spring semester’s assessment plan with all faculty: Inform instructors of the SLO, CLO, and course sections that will be assessed. Distribute/discuss the assessment and procedures. Communicate the plan for collecting data at the end of the semester. Ensure that NOVA Online, synchronous Zoom, and off-site dual enrollment sections are informed of any assessments that they should be conducting. Work on revisions to the assessment report, due February 3, 2025.
February 2025	Submit the final 2023-24 SLOA Report for Disciplines or for Programs to OSI by February 3, 2025. Check-in that instructors are conducting assessments for the 2024-25 reports.
March/ April 2025	The Office of Strategic Insights will send programs and disciplines feedback on the 2023-24 assessment report to include: Feedback on the program’s/discipline’s final report: the feedback is meant to inform next year’s report; no revisions to this document are expected. Program/Discipline rubric score: this document provides information about the areas of the report that were complete and incomplete and work needed to improve the areas that were incomplete in next year’s report. A feedback letter with the College-wide rubric score: this document provides your programs and disciplines with their rubric scores for the past several years, the College-wide rubric score, and information about areas that all programs at the College should focus on next year.
May 2025	1. Collect Spring assessment results from faculty: Collect, input, and analyze assessment results for reporting to the program/discipline group at the beginning of Fall semester. All 2023-24 SLO Reports for Programs and for Disciplines will be viewable on the Office of Strategic Insight’s website by August 1, 2025.

NOVA’s student learning outcomes assessment cycle is an ongoing, faculty-driven process designed to monitor and improve student learning and student success at the program level. It supports the College's vision to be a learning-centered organization that promotes student success as articulated in its Strategic Plan 2017-2023: Pathway to the American Dream, which includes three pillars:

Every student succeeds,
Every program achieves, and
Every community prospers.

How does NOVA know whether students are succeeding, and programs are achieving? Instructional programs assess and report on student learning each academic year in a document titled the Annual Planning and Evaluation Report for Instructional Programs. Each degree and certificate-granting program at NOVA develops written student learning outcomes (SLOs) which are the accumulated knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students learn during a course of study. Then faculty implement assessment activities and analyze the results to determine actions to further improve student learning.

The Office of Strategic Insights collects and publishes reports on student learning from degree and certificate granting programs each year. This report provides information on:

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