Priorities

The Office of Assessment works with the University Assessment Committee (UAC), the vice presidents, the deans, faculty, students, and staff to examine the student experience at Morgan State University, to identify and focus on areas of excellence, and opportunities for improvement. This work is accomplished through multiple methods including standardized testing, an annual cycle of undergraduate and graduate program assessment, program review, surveys, course evaluations, accreditation requirements, and special assessment projects.

A Student Learning Outcome (SLO) is the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students develop during a course of study, or at the end of an educative process. In addition, SLO refers to criteria for determining if overall program goals are being successfully met and whether students are learning a program's curriculum to a satisfactory level. No single strategy in itself is sufficient, in and of itself, in describing dimensions of student learning.  Assessment of learning outcomes requires use of multiple measures to provide adequate evidence of student learning gains. Standardized tests, locally produced tests, portfolios, final projects, capstone, and action research projects are examples of measures for providing evidence of student learning. Moreover, Student Learning Outcomes are indices of institutional effectiveness.

General Education Program refers to the Morgan C.O.R.E. or Creating Opportunity to Reach Excellence. C.O.R.E. is an initiative at Morgan State University designed to enhance and integrate the General Education Program as the foundation of a liberal education. The Morgan C.O.R.E. was conceived in respond to current demands to develop, educate and graduate scholars and professionals who can succeed in a diverse, technological, competitive, global and interdependent society. C.O.R.E. will contribute to the development of college educated individuals, who are engaged and informed citizens, and who are sensitive to the cultural and economic context in which they are surrounded.

Program Review: Periodic self-studies in which departments are asked to present their mission statements; resources, including the number of faculty, faculty qualifications and productivity, teaching load, curriculum, and technology; learning outcomes and assessment measures; the ways in which departments have shared assessment results and used those results to inform departmental decision-making; and plans for improving learning and all aspects of the academic program. The external program review cycle of programs with external accrediting processes are aligned with their professional association's standards (5-7 years). Program review cycle for programs without external accrediting process is 5 years in accordance with University's strategic planning process.

Assessment Resources is an online system for supporting the outcome assessment process campus-wide. Documents, templates, resource links, exemplars are the focus of this section. Assessment resources are specifically designed to: (1) ensure that we provide students with a high quality academic and co-curricular experience; (2) support and assist the outcome assessment efforts campus-wide; and (3) improve communication of outcome assessment efforts between the Office of Assessment and the academic and non-academic units at Morgan State University.

The University Assessment Committee (UAC) consists of representatives from all segment of the University (e.g., Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, College, Schools, and Budget Management). The Committee reviews assessment plans for academic and non-academic programs and provide recommendations for plan and program improvements to department chairs, program directors, and departmental assessment coordinators. In addition, members of the UAC collaborate with General Education Program (GEP) Committee in developing, monitoring, and revising the university plan for assessing the general education learning outcomes.

The online calendar is a system of organizing events and priorities of the Office of Assessment at Morgan State University.  The calendar is also utilized to list the day, month and year of key events and priorities such as assessment of learning outcomes, assessment of the General Education Program, annual reports, course evaluations, and special projects (e.g., CLA assessment, NSSE, grants, etc.). 

Standards and Accreditation are integral component of the process for granting recognition to education institutions by an official review board for meeting standards of excellence. Standards and accreditation are also an integral component of institutional effectiveness or the ability of an institution or an education unit to achieve stated mission and goals.

Office of Assessment Blog contains articles, links, and resources on outcome assessment. We invite faculty, staff, and administrators to visit, read, and publish articles on different aspects of outcome assessment (e.g., theory, principles, best practices, research, use of data, program review, evidenced-based, rubrics, student learning, etc.). Office of Assessment Blog is also designed to promote collaboration and networking with colleagues on the issue of outcome assessment and how the university can use the process of assessment to improve different aspects of student experience and academic and non-academic units campus-wide.  Moreover, assessment blog is further designed to promote reflection and opportunities for online scholarly activities.  

Individual Annual Report (IAR): In the spring of each year, members of the faculty and administrators complete IAR which contains professional activities and accomplishments during the academic year in accordance with the research, teaching, and service mission of Morgan State University. All information requested on the IAR form reflects period from April 1 of the past year to March 31, of the current year. In general, IAR is an opportunity to update information on degrees, publications, committee assignments, and other research and public service activities. IAR report is also an important evidence for merit pay and the tenure and promotion process. 

Course Evaluation: At the end of each course, students at Morgan State University complete evaluation(s) for their face-face and online courses. The course evaluation form is a paper or electronic questionnaire with closed and open-ended items for evaluating dimensions of the instructional process (e.g., course organization, assignments, grading, communication, feedback and assessments, etc.). Instructors can use results of course evaluation(s) to improve quality of instruction. Course evaluations may also be utilized by administrators as a measure in determining faculty appointments, raises, promotions, and tenure.

The Annual Report process is an opportunity for academic and non-academic program and divisions to identify accomplishments in accordance with the research, teaching, and service mission of Morgan State University. In addition, the annual report process is designed to illustrate the connection between division and unit level strategic planning process; and to align the planning and resource allocations decisions. Findings from annual report summaries can be used to improve different aspects of the academic and non-academic units and programs; and for adjusting goals, actions or achievement targets for the next reporting cycle(s).

Special Projects and Grants refer to scholarly activities and projects on the issue of outcome assessment and project evaluation.  In collaboration with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), the Office of Assessment support Morgan's effort to obtain and evaluate grants on the issue of outcome assessment and related project evaluation.  Serving as a clearinghouse for campus assessment tools and data, the Office of Assessment incorporates external benchmarks and internal norms to ensure timely, accurate, and data supported interpretation of assessment results.