Benefits of Assessment

Course assessment provides the opportunity for faculty to discuss course content and, based on the results, consider how they can improve student learning in the course. Benefits of establishing common course outcomes and assessment include the following:

• More consistency in multi-section courses.
• More opportunities for collaboration among faculty members.
• Increased contact with adjunct faculty.
• Exploration of learning strategies and teaching methods to enhance student success.
• Experimentation with alternative assessments to evaluate student outcomes.
• Support of requests for funding based on assessment evidence.

In addition, when course outcomes are tied to program and/or institution-wide outcomes, assessment of course outcomes can serve as a way to assess program and institution-wide outcomes as well by aggregating data collected. When direct measures of student success in programs and the institution are available, both programs and the institution can more easily market and seek funding based on the success of students.