National Recognition of Assessment at St. Olaf

    The extensive engagement of St. Olaf faculty and staff in gathering and using evidence of student learning is nationally-recognized and frequently disseminated at regional and national conferences. Below are selected websites, publications, and presentations sharing the college’s assessment work.

    AndersonDavid David R. Anderson ’74, President of the College
    Watch the archived February 3, 2013 broadcast about the assessment of student learning outcomes at St. Olaf CollegeLunchtime Live

     

    External organizations and publications featuring assessment at St. Olaf

    National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA)
    St. Olaf’s “utilization-focused” model of assessment is one of several case studies in “good assessment practice” on the NILOA website

    Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
    St. Olaf’s Don’t just check off those requirements! website, blending employer opinion data with assessment findings from St. Olaf seniors and alumni to explain the value of the college’s General Education requirements, is featured in AAC&U’s Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) initiative

    Assessing College Student Learning: Evaluating Alternative Models, Using Multiple Methods.
    Sternberg, R.J., Penn, J., & C. Hawkins. (2011). Washington, DC: AAC&U.
    The St. Olaf case study in this publication focuses on faculty leadership in assessment

    Council for Higher Education Accreditation Award (CHEA)
    In 2010, St. Olaf was one of four institutions to receive the national CHEA award for “Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning Outcomes,” the first liberal arts institution to be so recognized

    Selected St. Olaf publications, papers, and presentations to external audiences

    Beld, J. (2013) Leveraging LEAP to Advance Assessment. Presentation at the 2013 AAC&U Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.

    Beld, J. (2012). Actionable Assessment of Academic Programs: Principles and Practices for Usable Results. Presentation at AAC&U “Integrative Learning and the Departments” Institute, Burlington, VT

    Beld, J. (2010). Engaging Departments in Assessing Student Learning: Overcoming Common Objections. Peer Review 12 (1)

    Walczak, M., Gross, D. & Beld, J. (2009). Engaging Faculty in Department-Level Assessment. Unpublished manuscript, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN.