Student Learning at the Senior Level: AY 2020-21 [CAPS] Course Assessment Results
As reported in the AY 2020-21 [CAPS] Course Assessment Reporting Summary of Key Evidence for UCORE (PDF), assessment results indicated that 82% of students met or exceeded expectations at the graduating undergraduate level for Information Literacy. Additionally, 83% of students met or exceeded expectations for Integrative Learning. In courses where faculty members found enough elements to evaluate student learning on additional learning goals, instructors indicated that 82% of the students met or exceeded expectations for Scientific Literacy, and 81% for Quantitative Reasoning.
In place since 2015, [CAPS] Assessment Reporting for UCORE is intended to gauge student learning on WSU’s Undergraduate Learning Goals at the near-graduation level. For AY 2020-21, the CAPS report form focused on Information Literacy, Integrative Learning, Quantitative Reasoning (optional), and Scientific Literacy (optional). Note: For fall 2020 and spring 2021, undergraduate courses at WSU were delivered at a distance and completed remotely, with extremely limited exceptions for in-person instruction, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While roughly 73% of fall 2020 and spring 2021 CAPS instructors indicated that there were substantial impacts to course assignments, learning activities, instruction, and/or grading in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, roughly 81% of instructors indicated that they had confidence in their ability to assess student achievement of these WSU Learning Goals.
A total of 167 reports were submitted by 138 instructors, representing 84% of CAPS courses and 84% of students enrolled in CAPS courses in fall 2020 and spring 2021. In 65% of reports, instructors indicated that their students were primarily (>90%) seniors. Instructors indicated that their students were primarily (>90%) majors in 67% of reports. Approximately 83% of students enrolled in all CAPS courses in fall 2020 and spring 2021 were seniors.
A total of 167 reports were submitted by 138 instructors, representing 84% of CAPS courses and 84% of students enrolled in CAPS courses in fall 2020 and spring 2021. In 65% of reports, instructors indicated that their students were primarily (>90%) seniors. Instructors indicated that their students were primarily (>90%) majors in 67% of reports. Approximately 83% of students enrolled in all CAPS courses in fall 2020 and spring 2021 were seniors.
Learning Goals Demonstrated in [CAPS] Courses. Established as part of WSU’s general education curriculum (UCORE) beginning in 2012, Integrative Capstone [CAPS] courses bring opportunities for integration, application, and closure to the undergraduate experience. All [CAPS] courses require students to demonstrate at least four of the seven university learning goals: Critical & Creative Thinking, Information Literacy, Depth, Breadth, & Integration of Learning, and Communication. In addition, Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Literacy, and/or Diversity may be included as appropriate to the discipline or course. In AY 2020-21, 50% of reports indicated that the course syllabus required students to demonstrate Scientific Literacy and 43% required students to demonstrate Quantitative Reasoning.
For additional information, see [CAPS] Assessment for UCORE or contact the Office of Assessment for Curricular Effectiveness (formerly the Office of Assessment of Teaching and Learning).