Wilkes University’s academic major programs and administrative support units regularly
assess performance on their goals. For the academic programs, this means assessing
student performance in relation to program and course level student learning outcomes.
The outcomes state, in measurable terms, what students should be able to know or do
by the completion of the course or program.
Reporting
Regular reporting on assessment process and outcomes to the University’s Assessment Committee allows for academic programs to align their program-level student learning outcomes
with the appropriate set (undergraduate or graduate-focused) Institutional Student Learning Outcomes, which were developed, reviewed, and adopted by Wilkes’ faculty. Since these institutional
outcomes are aligned with the University’s mission statement, this practice ensures
regular reflection on how the program contributes to the mission. The academic programs
and administrative units further align through regular reviews with the University’s Strategic Plan themes/goals, ensuring a clear picture of how the learning in the academic programs and the activities
in the administrative units support the goals of the plan.
Academic programs and administrative units undergo a full review every three years, with annual updates provided on progress made for the
years in between. Review schedules for academic program areas were developed to align with disciplinary accreditation/certification/approval schedules for impacted programs. Reviews submitted as part of Wilkes University’s overarching
assessment plan are reviewed for evidence of good assessment process, to ensure the
results produced can be useful for ongoing improvement. Feedback is provided on submitted
reviews annually, with the aim of ensuring University curriculum, student experiences,
and University processes adequately support student learning and success.
