Recertification & Assessment
Recertification
The UCCC conducts the recertification process to ensure every course included in KU Core 34 is meeting the learning outcomes for its associated goal and the criteria for inclusion in KU Core 34. The recertification process involves submitting course syllabi to Canvas and answering a series of questions explaining how the course content and assignments meet the learning outcomes. Additionally, during the recertification process, instructors will reflect on the assessment results from the previous year and identify opportunities for improvement. All instructors within a goal will be given the opportunity to discuss the assessment results with other instructors teaching courses in the same goal.
KU Core 34 Assessment
KU Core 34 goals are aligned with the University’s Institutional Learning Goals (ILGs). KU Core 34, KU’s general education curriculum, is assessed by the University Assessment Committee to measure student achievement of the ILGs. This is a separate process from the Degree-Level Assessment. The Higher Learning Commission, KU’s accreditor, requires assessment of student learning that demonstrates the achievement of learning outcomes associated with each KU Core 34 goal.
KU Core 34 goals are assessed in the aggregate using a sample of anonymous student assignments from each course included in the KU Core 34 goal. KU Core 34 assessment is not designed to assess courses individually but to assess how all courses included in each goal are meeting the goal’s associated learning outcomes.
The University Assessment Committee partners with the University Core Curriculum Committee to assess KU Core 34, KU’s general education curriculum, and its associated Institutional Learning Goals (ILG).
The UCCC role in the assessment process is:
- developing the signature assignment parameters and the evaluating rubric
- identifying the milestones foundational KU Core courses should meet on the rubric
- assisting the University Assessment Committee with collection of assessment materials
- communicating the results of the assessment process
- providing an opportunity for courses and academic units to reflect on the results and identify strategies for improvement
KU Core 34 Assessment Results
Results of the assessment are provided to all instructors teaching courses within a particular KU Core 34 goal. All faculty teaching within each goal will be invited to a debriefing session where the results will be shared and discussed.
Course instructors will be asked to reflect on the results during the University Core Curriculum Committee’s (UCCC) recertification process which occurs during the academic year following the goal’s assessment.
The staggering of the assessment and recertification process allows for instructors to reflect on the results of assessment and inform the UCCC and University Assessment Committee how they plan to incorporate those results into their course as needed.