Academic Assessment and Program Review

Academic Assessment

HPU has leveraged technology to assess both its Institutional and Program Learning Outcomes. We are committed to communicating these assessment results in a way that is efficient, user-friendly, and truly meaningful for all our stakeholders (faculty, staff, prospective students, parents, employers, board members, donors, accreditors, and the general public).

To this end, HPU has acquired and launched student learning outcomes assessment software to assess student achievement of the WSCUC core competencies: critical thinking, information literacy, oral communication, quantitative reasoning, and written communication.

Written Communication

In Fall 2016, HPU launched its first, campus-wide initiative designed to assess written communication in general education and capstone courses. During the academic year 2016 – 2017, faculty collected 283 artifacts of authentic student work.

In Fall 2017, each college convened an assessment committee to sample and score these artifacts. These college-level committees normed their evaluations to a common rubric adapted from the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Written Communication Rubric.

In Summer 2018, HPU presented its assessment findings at the university assessment day and engaged deans, department and program chairs, and members of the academic assessment and program review shared governance committee in a thoughtful discussion of the implication of these results for continuous, quality improvements to the curriculum. To view these results, please click on the following link: Written Communication Assessment Report.

Oral Communication

In Fall 2017, HPU launched an oral communication project at the Annual Assessment Day event as the second in a series of annual assessment projects. The Academic Assessment and Program Review Shared Governance Committee coordinated the random sampling of oral presentations from general education and capstone courses,.

In Spring 2018, faculty collected student artifacts, using cutting-edge, lecture-capture software. Faculty members participated in rubric norming sessions, using a rubric adapted from the AAC&U's Oral Communication Rubric, to prepare them for live scoring of presentations in face to face classes as well as scoring of archived submissions from online courses.

In Summer 2019, HPU presented its assessment findings at the university assessment day and engaged deans, department and program chairs, and members of the academic assessment and program review shared governance committee in a thoughtful discussion of the implication of these results for continuous, quality improvements to the curriculum. To view these results, please click on the following link: Oral Communication Assessment Report.

Critical Thinking

In Fall 2018, HPU launched its third, campus-wide initiative designed to assess critical thinking in general education and capstone courses at its annual Assessment Day event.

In Spring 2019, faculty in each college collected student artifacts and participated in rubric norming sessions, using a rubric adapted from the AAC&U's Critical Thinking Rubric. In Fall 2019 and Spring 2020, faculty in each college scored the student submissions and the Academic Assessment and Program Review Committee aggregated the results.

In Summer 2020, HPU presented its assessment findings at the university assessment day and engaged deans, department and program chairs, and members of the academic assessment and program review shared governance committee in a thoughtful discussion of the implication of these results for continuous, quality improvements to the curricuum. To view these results, please click on the following link: Critical Thinking Assessment Report.

Information Literacy

At its annual Assessment Day event in Fall 2019, HPU launched its fourth, campus-wide initiative to assess information literacy in general education and both

In Spring 2020, the Academic Assessment and Program Review Shared Governance Committee deployed three quizzes, designed to assess information literacy skills to instructors in designated courses. Participating instructors asked students to take these quizzes, which were housed in a separate Blackboard course.

In Summer 2020, HPU presented its assessment findings at the university Assessment Day event and engaged deans, department and program chairs, and members of the academic assessment and program review shared governance committee in a thoughtful discussion of the implication of these results for continuous, quality improvements to the curriculum. To view these results, please click on the following link: Information Literacy Assessment Report.

Quantitative Reasoning

At its annual Assessment Day event in Fall 2020, HPU launched its fifth, campus-wide initiative to assess quantitative reasoning in general education and in undergraduate capstone courses. At that time, the Academic Assessment and Program Review Shared Governance Committee introduced a quantitative analysis and symbolic reasoning quiz that had been developed in Blackboard for general education and capstone or senior-level undergraduate instructors.

In Spring 2021, the Academic Assessment and Program Review Shared Governance Committee deployed the quiz to instructors in general education courses with a quantitative analysis and symbolic reasoning learning outcome and in capstone or senior-level courses in each undergraduate program. Participating instructors asked students to take these quizzes, which were housed in a separate Blackboard course. The quiz continued to be available to instructors and to students in Summer 2021.

In Fall 2021, HPU presened its assessment findings at the university Assessment Day event and engaged deans, department and program chairs, and members of the academic assessment and program review shared governance committee in a thoughtful discussion of the implication of these results for continuous, quality improvements to the curriculum. To view these results, please click on the following link: Quantitative Analysis and Symbolic Reasoning Assessment Report.

Academic Program Review

Additionally, each degree program conducts annual assessments of their program learning outcomes. Using accountability management software, they have created digital archives of their mission, program learning outcomes, and curriculum maps, along with annual assessment plans that assess student learning of program learning outcomes. Each program carefully analyzes these assessment results, reflects on the findings, and develops action plans for curricular improvement. These efforts are punctuated by a five year self study internal and external review process.