Roots of Contemporary Issues [ROOT] Assessment

Introduction

Roots of Contemporary Issues [ROOT] courses are foundational first-year experience courses for UCORE. The courses introduce students to five of WSU’s Learning Goals of Undergraduate Education (Critical & Creative Thinking, Information Literacy, Communication, Diversity, and Depth, Breadth & Integration of Learning) by asking students to explore and understand the historical and global roots of various issues facing the world today.

Assessment

Visual depiction of the NILOA Transparency Framework Current Assessment Activities Component.

In place since AY 2012-13, Roots of Contemporary Issues Assessment is intended to provide [ROOT] faculty with information for program improvement, as well as gauge student learning on WSU Undergraduate Learning Goals at the first-year level in the context of the UCORE curriculum. Each academic year, [ROOT] faculty evaluate a random sample of student’s papers from all campuses using a faculty-developed rubric. [ROOT] Assessment includes the Final Papers Assessment (aligned with Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, and Integrative Learning) and the Diversity & Inequality Papers Assessment (aligned with Diversity and Written Communication), conducted biennially in alternating years starting in AY 2016-17. The Roots of Contemporary Issues program, in collaboration with the WSU Libraries and Office of Assessment for Curricular Effectiveness (ACE), coordinates the assessment, reporting, and data analysis for these Roots of Contemporary Issues Assessment projects. 

Evidence of Student Learning

Visual depiction of the NILOA Transparency Framework Evidence of Student Learning Component.

Roots of Contemporary Issues Assessment results are compiled each year to provide a summary of student learning on WSU’s Undergraduate Learning Goals at the first-year level. Click on the links below for recent summaries of results of Roots of Contemporary Issues [ROOT] Assessment. For more summaries of results from Roots of Contemporary Issues [ROOT] Assessment, see Results of [ROOT] Assessment.)

Uses of Assessment

Visual depiction of the NILOA Transparency Framework Use of Student Learning Evidence Component.

The Roots of Contemporary Issues Steering Committee and program faculty review assessment results each year and suggest actions for improved assessment or use to inform decision-making. The Roots of Contemporary Issues program also works closely with the WSU Libraries’ research services librarians to use assessment to develop and refine information literacy curricula. For more information about this partnership, see Research Services Librarians Conduct and Use Information Literacy Assessment.

Below are some examples of how student learning evidence from Roots of Contemporary Issues [RROT] Assessment contributes to decision-making intended to support student learning and quality undergraduate education.