Undergraduate Program Assessment

Program learning outcomes (PLO) assessment is an iterative process of evaluating the extent to which students have developed certain key skills through coursework and learning activities within the program curriculum.

At UCSC, we conduct assessment on a 3-year reporting cycle, where each year is devoted to one major task: Assess (Year 1), Reflect (Year 2), and Improve (Year 3). Click the links below for details about each step in the 3-year cycle.

Year 1: Assess

The goal of the first year is to design and run an assessment study in key courses, collecting and analyzing data about student learning.

Learn more about each Year 1 step:

STEP 1: Design a Study

STEP 2: Collect Data

STEP 3: Analyze Data

Year 2: Reflect

In year 2, faculty meet with assessment specialists to discuss the results to identify possible curriculum, program, or course improvements.

Learn more about each Year 2 step:

STEP 4: Share Results

STEP 5: Plan Changes

STEP 6: Submit Report

Year 3: Improve

In the final year, programs implement and observe the impact of changes, then meet with assessment specialists to plan the next cycle.

Learn more about each Year 3 step:

STEP 7: Implement Changes

STEP 8: Observe Impact

STEP 9: Plan Year 1