Graduate Program Assessment
WSU Policy on Program Assessment
The WSU Executive Policy on the Assessment of Student Learning in Degree Programs governs the system for regularly assessing the quality of graduate and professional degree programs offered by the university. This system is intended to provide information that can guide program improvement and meet Washington Student Achievement Council (formerly the Higher Education Coordinating Board) criteria for assessment of educational outcomes in public institutions of higher education in the State of Washington and Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities accreditation standards.
Guidelines for Graduate Programs
The assessment of student learning and success is intended to be a regular, ongoing, iterative process that evaluates each degree program’s quality and effectiveness, stimulates program planning and improvement, and encourages graduate programs to develop and grow in areas that reflect the university’s strategic priorities and initiatives.
All WSU graduate programs are required to have an assessment plan with well-defined student learning outcomes and processes for collecting, reviewing, and using assessment data. Program faculty are responsible for assessing student learning and are expected to demonstrate continuous improvements at the degree program-level that meet the needs and career goals of graduate students who are enrolled in the program. To be effective, graduate program assessment should be faculty-driven, include all students, campuses, and degree options, support department and college-level decision-making, and meet institutional and program requirements for accreditation. Graduate programs document their use of student learning evidence in annual program assessment reports to the Graduate School and the Office of the Provost.
Goals and Progress
The Graduate School strives to have substantially all (≥90%) graduate programs reporting that they have met the assessment goals listed below. In any given year, a small number of programs may experience a change in their program structure or staffing, resulting in a lack of meaningful data collected for one or more goals.
| Assessment Benchmark | 2020-22 | 2023 | 2022-24 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substantially all (>90%) graduate programs have an established graduate assessment plan that guides their collection and use of assessment data at the program-level. | 100% (62/62) | 100% (66/66) | 100% (66/66) | 100% (68/68) |
| Substantially all (>90%) graduate programs have program-level student learning outcomes in place each year. | 100% (62/62) | 100% (66/66) | 100% (66/66) | 100% (68/68) |
| Substantially all (>90%) graduate programs make their student learning outcomes publicly available through their website, student handbook, or other program materials. | 84% (52/62) | 97% (64/66) | 97% (64/66) | 97% (66/68) |
| Substantially all (>90%) graduate programs collect data to assess program-level student learning outcomes within a given one or two-year assessment period. | 92% (57/62) | 80% (53/66) | 88% (58/66) | 80% (59/68) |
| Substantially all (>90%) graduate programs conduct any assessment-related activities or assess student learning outcomes within a given one or two-year assessment period. | 92% (57/62) | 67% (44/66) | 98% (65/66) | 66% (45/68) |
| Substantially all (>90%) graduate programs use assessment data to either evaluate SLOs or improve their assessment practice within a given two-year assessment period. | 79% (49/62) | 44% (29/66) | 82% (54/66) | 57% (39/68) |
| Substantially all (>90%) graduate programs review assessment data for at least one program SLO indicating the level of student achievement with a given two-year assessment period. | 76% (47/62) | 39% (26/66) | 74% (49/66) | 40% (27/68) |
| Substantially all (>90%) graduate programs use assessment data for any decision-making or program improvement within a given two-year assessment period. | 74% (46/62) | 36% (24/66) | 70% (46/66) | 44% (30/68) |
Assessment Resources for Faculty and Staff
The Graduate School offers the following resources to assist faculty and staff in their program assessment and improvement practices:
- Graduate Assessment Plan Template – Assessment plan template and example for doctoral and master’s programs
- Student Learning Outcomes for PhD Programs – Examples of learning outcomes statements for new and continuing doctoral programs
- Graduate Assessment Resources – “How To” guides and external links on writing student learning outcomes, planning for assessment, creating and using rubrics, choosing data sources and collection methods, discussing assessment results with faculty, and using assessment results for program improvement
- Graduate Assessment Highlights – Examples describing how WSU graduate programs are using assessment data to improve graduate programs, including: teaching, learning, advising, mentoring, professional development, and student success measures
- Assessment Terminology – General terms and definitions used in outcomes assessment
- Graduate School SharePoint Site – Graduate School archive with graduate program assessment reports, assessment plans, feedback letters, student annual review forms, rubrics, and other assessment-related materials (WSU network log-in/department access required)