How to Enter Results, Findings, and Actions in an Assessment Plan

Updated July 14, 2026 13:28

Watermark Support

Overview

This article explains how to input and manage assessment data within the plan workspace. It outlines the steps to enter measure results, upload supporting files, record student proficiency counts, integrate data from Watermark Suite or external Learning Management Systems (LMS), analyze findings, and establish actionable next steps to complete the assessment cycle.

Adding Results to the Assessment Plan

Once measures are part of the plan, the next step is to enter the results of those measures. To begin, click the Add Results button for the specific measure.

The Written Communication section showing Capstone Project card with no results added. Add Results button highlighted.

This action opens a page where the appropriate results format can be selected. The available options depend on the type of outcome assessed and the details associated with the measure.

Selection screen displaying results options including uploading files, entering total counts, and using suite or LMS integrations.

The entry formats include the following options:

Upload results and write a summary: This option allows users to upload a data file as evidence.
Enter the total counts of met/not met: This option allows users to enter the number of students who exceeded, met, approached, or did not meet criteria for outcome achievement. These results display as a data graphic. Users can add a single record of counts or document an individual count per course section.
Watermark Suite or Heritage Integrations: This option allows users to add results collected from the institution's legacy LMS integrations or from additional Watermark products, such as Student Learning & Licensure, Outcomes Assessment Projects, or Course Evaluations & Surveys.
LMS Integrations (Advanced LMS): This option appears automatically for institutions with an active Canvas, D2L Brightspace, or Blackboard integration. It provides a direct path to manage alignments to LMS activities and rubrics directly from the assessment plan without leaving the workspace.

While users cannot change the chosen results method without deleting the data already collected, they can edit the entries within that chosen method at a later point. For example, if users select the option to enter counts, they can edit the actual counts later on.

Once results are added, click Save & Close in the top-right corner.

Uploading Assessment Results Files

After selecting "I want to upload the assessment results files," click the Upload New File button. This opens the computer's file directory, where users can select single or multiple files for upload.

The Results page showing Upload results file section with Files and Summary tabs. Files tab active. Upload New File button highlighted. Accepted file types are listed below.

After the files upload, they appear with options to download or remove them.

The Results file entry showing Add Results file row with download and delete buttons on the right and a completion checkmark.

Users can also use the Summary tab to add additional narrative information relevant to the results.

The Upload results file section showing Summary tab active with a large text box labeled Summary for entering a summary of the measure activity results.

Entering Count of Students who Meet / Do Not Meet Criteria

Selecting "I want to enter the count of students who meet/do not meet the criteria" presents options to enter count data for students who exceeded, met, approached, or did not meet the outcome connected to the measure.

Note: Category titles may vary based on the institution’s settings in Planning & Self-Study.

After entering the counts, select View Results.

The Results page showing Enter met/not met counts section. Overall counts option selected with fields for Exceeded, Met, Approached, and Not Met filled with numeric values. Counts for each section option appears below but unavailable. View Results button highlighted.

The system then displays the data as a bar graph.

The Results page showing Overall Proficiency bar with segments for Exceeded, Met, Approached, and Not Met, each labeled with percentages. Totals for Met and Not Met appear below the bar. Change Collection Method link appears at the top. Edit Results button on the right.

Selecting Edit Results in the bottom-right corner allows users to update the count data as needed.

Users can also enter student counts broken down by course section if the measure is associated with a course that has sections offered during the active plan year.

To begin, select Counts for each section and click Enter Counts. Planning & Self-Study automatically aggregates totals across all course sections.

The Counts for each section option selected with instruction text for entering counts for individual course sections. Enter Counts button on the right.

In addition to entering count data, users can upload supporting documentation and a narrative summary. Expand the Toggle Summary setting to reveal both the file uploader and the summary entry box.

The section showing Files and Summary tabs. Files tab active with an Upload New File button and accepted file types listed. A toggle icon for showing or hiding the Summary section.

Adding Results from a Watermark Suite Product

To view the step-by-step instructions for pulling data from a Watermark Suite product, select the specific product resource link below:

Adding Results from an Advanced LMS Integration

When selecting LMS Integrations, users can align activities and rubrics using the workflow below:

In the Results section, select LMS Integrations.
Choose either Align by Activity or Align by Rubric.
The system utilizes smart filtering to only display activities and rubrics from terms that fall within the plan's reporting year. For program plans with a course-based measure, the system only displays data from the selected course.
Select a term from the dropdown menu and choose the activities or rubrics to align.
Click Save and Close. The system returns the workspace to the measure within the plan, and the new alignment updates automatically.

Removing and Changing Results

If users decide to use a different results collection method after data entry has begun, they can delete the existing results and start over. Select Change Collection Method in the top-right corner of the results entry area.

The Results section showing Change Collection Method link on the right of the header.

This action opens a pop-up confirmation window. Selecting Yes, Delete Results permanently removes all data already entered for that measure and allows for a new results collection method selection.

The Delete existing results dialog showing warning that changing the format will delete all existing results and settings. Two buttons appear: No, Keep Existing Format and Yes, Delete Results.

Analyzing Results with Findings

Once results are documented, the next step is to enter the findings. To begin, select Analyze Results under the measure title.

The Written Communication section showing Capstone Project card with note indicating student counts added and Analyze Results button.

Next, scroll down to the Findings category.

The Findings section showing fields for Measure Status drop‑down, Analysis text box, and Actions area indicating no actions added. Add New Action button appears below. Past Findings button on the top right.

The first option in this category is to document the Measure Status. From the dropdown menu, select whether the criteria for the measure was Met or Not Met based on the results.

After selecting the measure status, users can enter a narrative Analysis in the text field provided.

Viewing Past Findings

If the same measure was used in one or more previous assessment plans, users can view the findings created for it in those prior cycles. Select Past Findings in the top-right corner of the findings entry area.

The Findings section showing Measure Status field displaying 'Met.' The Past Findings button on the right.

This action opens a panel on the right side of the screen. The panel displays all previous plans containing that measure along with the relevant findings data.

The Past Findings panel showing Academic Assessment Plan 2021–2022 expanded. Status displays Not Met, and Target shows none. Overall Proficiency bar shows segments for Exceeded, Met, Approached, and Not Met with percentages listed below. Analysis section shows a sample narrative.

Adding and Editing Actions

Once results and findings are documented, users can create actions to close the loop on assessment planning. Selecting Add Actions under the measure title starts the process.

The Written Communication section showing Capstone Project card with status labeled Met and Add Actions button.

Next, scroll down to the Findings entry area and select Add New Action.

The Actions section showing message stating no actions for this measure and Add New Action button.

This opens the Actions panel on the right side of the page, where users select the specific type of action to document.

The Add New Action page showing list of action types such as Revise Curriculum, Revise Measurement/Assessment, Gather Additional Data, Implement New Program, Modify Policies/Procedures, Additional Training, Collaborate with Another Department, Maintain Assessment Strategy, and Other. Cancel and Create Action buttons appear at the bottom.

Once the action type is selected, users can enter the action status, description, file attachments, and an optional due date.

The Action details section showing Action Type set to Revise Curriculum with a link to Change Action Type. Status drop‑down displays Not Started. Action Description text box contains sample text. Recommended Due Date field shows an entered date with a calendar button.

If the action requires budgetary approval, users can also use the optional budget component by selecting Add Budget Request.

Once created, the item appears below the findings entry area. Actions can be updated or removed at any time by selecting the Edit or Delete options to the right of the action name.

The Actions section showing Revise Curriculum action expanded with fields for Status, Plan, Description, Recommended Due Date, and Budget Request. Edit and Delete action buttons appear on the right. Edit button highlighted.

Analyzing Outcomes

After creating all of an outcome's measures and documenting their results, findings, and actions, users can complete an overall analysis of the outcome itself.

To begin, select Analyze Outcome located beneath the list of measures cards.

The Written Communication section showing Capstone Project card with status Met and one listed action. A New Measure card appears to the right. Analyze Outcome button below the cards highlighted.

This action reveals an outcome analysis text entry area and an outcome status dropdown menu.

The text area provides space to add relevant narratives, while the outcome status dropdown is where users indicate whether the institution met or did not meet the overall criteria called for by the outcome.

Finally, users can also use this area to document any general actions that are not tied to a specific standalone measure.

The Outcome Analysis section showing a text box for entering analysis. Outcome Status drop‑down appears below with the selector open. General Outcome Actions area displays an Add New Action button.