What is Assessment?
Illinois Tech's core mission is "to provide distinctive and relevant education in an environment of scientific, technological, and professional knowledge creation and innovation." How do we as an institution know if the education provided through our courses and programs is distinctive and relevant? How can we as an institution ensure that we focus on what our students can do in the workforce and in society in general? Through continuous assessment of student learning. In their handbook for course-based review and assessment, Martha L. A. Stassen et al. define assessment as simply “the systematic collection and analysis of information to improve student learning” (2001, p. 5). Assessment of student learning occurs at all levels: at the course level, at the program level, and at the institution level. At each level, data is gathered and analyzed to determine to what extent student are meeting course, program, core, or co-curricular learning objectives, not unlike the systematic collection and analysis of information that defines the scientific method.
Like the scientific method, systematic assessment enables faculty and other stakeholders to maintain consistency across curricula and to determine when or where curricular adjustments are needed. Assessment is a crucial part of the accreditation requirements for Illinois Tech, and more importantly, assessment is a tool to ensure that students are developing the skills they need for success.
Student Learning Assessment and Grades
The spirit of the assessment is one of continuous improvement. Student learning assessment provides feedback to faculty about how well the program curriculum is working to help students achieve the learning objectives of the program. In contrast, course grades provide feedback to individual students about how well they are mastering the content of the course.
Assessment at Illinois Tech
This section contains details for faculty conducting assessment at Illinois Tech, including best practices and templates for Program Assessment Plans and Annual Program Assessment Reports. Please note that you must be signed into Illinois Tech to view the linked documents.Program Assessment runs on an annual cycle according to each program's Program Assessment Plan. Annual program summary reports are due to the Program Assessment Committee the fall term following the academic year assessed. For example, reports and recommendations on learning objectives reviewed against Fall 2024-Spring 2025 student work are due Fall 2025, on October 15.
Core Curriculum Assessment runs a 3-year cycle evaluating core curriculum competencies and objectives against student course work.
Co-curricular Assessment will have its own regular cycle of its goals reviewed against its own co-curricular student learning objectives.
Assessment uses some unique terminology. The Glossary of Assessment Terms is a list of common terms and variations used at Illinois Tech.
Program Assessment Basics
Assessment Plans
- Use the Assessment Plan Essentials guide and template to create your program assessment plan.
- Download this Assessment Plan Template if you need to submit an assessment plan.
- Use the Program Assessment Plan Submission Form to submit program assessment plans to UPAC.
Annual Assessment Reports
- Download the Program Assessment Report Template for the text format of your annual program assessment report.
- Use the Program Assessment Report Submission Form to submit annual program reports based on the above templates to UPAC by October 15.
Use Student List By Program Request Form should you need a list of students by program for your a course for assessment. U{AC hosts an annually assessment day and related assessment workshops to assist PACs in assessment processes and preparing their reports. Reports and recommendations on PLOs reviewed against Fall 2024-Spring 2025 student work are due Tuesday, October 15, 2025.