Assessing General Education Outcomes
There are several ways to consider General Education (Gen Ed) analysis. Use the box below to find your best fit.
| If you are thinking of … | Level of outcome required for analysis | Functionality |
|---|---|---|
| Assessing and Viewing Gen Ed outcomes and results at the Institutional level. | Institutional outcome | Step 1: Assign Gen Ed outcomes at the institutional level. Step 2: Assess each Gen Ed outcome within an Assessment Plan Benefit: The assessment activity for institutional-level Gen Ed outcomes will appear on an institution-level report (attach a sample) |
Assessing and Viewing Gen Ed outcomes and results at the Program level. Option 1: Create a separate Gen Ed program. Option 2: Assess Gen Ed outcomes within each program separately. | Program outcome | Option 1 Step 1: Create a separate Gen Ed program in your hierarchy (System Admin portal) and align the curriculum (courses) to the program. Step 2: Create Gen Ed outcomes for the Gen Ed program. Step 3: Create a curriculum map for the Gen Ed program. Step 4: Assess the outcomes for the Gen Ed Program in an Assessment Plan Benefits: Can view/share curriculum map and report specific to the Gen Ed program. Option 2 Step 1: Add Gen Ed outcomes to each program. Step 2: Create curriculum maps for each program. Step 3: Assess the outcomes for each program in an Assessment Plan Benefits: Can view/share curriculum map and reports for each program that includes Gen Ed outcomes (attach samples) |
| Assessing and Viewing Gen Ed outcomes and results at the course level. | Course outcome | Step 1: Create gen ed outcomes at the course level Step 2: Assess the outcomes for each course in a course-level Assessment Plan Note: To assess at the course level, refer to CSV file import requirements for course-level assessment plans (link). Benefits: You can view/share each course's reports that include Gen Ed outcomes. This will allow you to assess each course outcome individually and generate a report for each Gen Ed course. |
Once you identify how you would like to assess your Gen Ed, move to the instructional guide below and follow the steps to achieve your desired outcome.
Institutional Outcomes
Ensure you are at the Institutional level in the Organizational management hierarchy. Create the outcome. Click on the option to tag this as a Gen Ed outcome.
Tagging the outcome as Gen Ed will make sure the outcome is labeled as such in the Outcome Map.
Program Outcomes
Create a Program for your Gen Ed courses in System Administration.
This is the view in the Planning and Self-Study Organization Management hierarchy.
Don’t forget to align your courses with the Gen Ed program in System Administration.
By making Gen Ed a program, you can have an individual report in the Plans module for your Gen Ed program.
Additionally, creating a program for Gen Ed and attaching courses to that program will allow you to make Curriculum Maps.
Course Outcomes
If you are assessing at the course level, add a Sections file in System Administration for all courses you plan to assess. Remember that you are tying this information to a Reporting Year. Make sure to align your sections with the respective reporting year.
Create an assessment plan, select Course Assessment Plan, and include your Gen Ed courses.
Each course will generate a report, providing data on whether outcomes were met.