Annual Assessment
Assessing ISLOs
CSUN has identified seven Institutional Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs) at the undergraduate level, representing the essential skills every undergraduate student should demonstrate.
- ISLO 1 Communication (Spoken/Signed)
- ISLO 2 Communication (Written)
- ISLO 3 Community Engagement
- ISLO 4 Critical Thinking
- ISLO 5 Global Learning
- ISLO 6 Information Literacy
- ISLO 7 Quantitative Reasoning
Similarly, CSUN has established three Graduate Institutional Student Learning Outcomes (GISLOs) to ensure that graduate students possess the advanced competencies necessary for leadership in their respective fields.
- GISLO 1 Demonstrated a graduate-level mastery of the contemporary knowledge base of their field of study.
- GISLO 2 Mastered the discipline-based skills appropriate for success in the field and will be able to apply them to common problems within the field.
- GISLO 3 Displayed the personal attributes or dispositions appropriate for success in the field, such as persistence, creativity, and good ethical judgment.
You can view the detailed list of ISLOs here (PDF) and GISLO policy here (PDF).
Assessing PSLOs
The Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) assessment process is also integrated into Canvas enabling faculty to effortlessly select and grade program-level outcomes, in tandem with ISLOs while grading. The assessment of ISLOs and PSLOs is intentionally aligned with our collective bargaining agreement Article 20 (PDF) on evaluating students without an excessive increase in workload.
Once grading is complete, Instructional Technology extracts scored outcomes, which is then meticulously cleaned and processed by the Office of Academic Assessment and Program Review (OAAPR). Institutional Research subsequently enriches the dataset, providing programs with a robust, contextualized collection of insights ready for in-depth analysis and strategic interpretation by each program.
Accreditation Standards
The undergraduate ISLOs are part of our curriculum and aligned with the WASC Senior Colleges and Universities Commission (WSCUC) standards, specifically addressing Standard 2: Achieving Educational Objectives through Core Functions (CFR 2.3, 2.4, 2.7, and 2.9). This alignment is a testament to the quality of education at CSUN, ensuring that our learning objectives are integrated into the curriculum and regularly assessed, providing evidence of student learning and program effectiveness.
The Office of Academic Assessment and Program Review is dedicated to establishing robust processes that facilitate the thorough assessment of student's academic journeys at every level within the university. This intricate process seamlessly integrates with the Canvas learning platform, allowing the direct collection of measurements from instructors in their classrooms. Our goal is to serve key engagers with the utmost consideration for non-intrusiveness.
To systematically monitor all students' progress toward Learning Outcomes at all levels, ensuring transparency in showcasing the substantial contributions of courses and experiences toward these overarching goals.
Fulfilling the need for readily available data essential for program reviews and accreditation, demonstrating the acquisition of discipline-specific skills. This data serves as a foundational support for broader curricular adjustments.
Providing faculty members with a comprehensive view of student progress towards overarching learning goals. This information empowers instructors to continuously monitor and adapt content to better align with the evolving needs of their students.
Catering to the student experience by facilitating a clear connection between individual courses and the broader applications relevant to their degree and future professional endeavors. This ensures that students can perceive meaningful connections within their academic journey.