56% of AAC&U member institutions assess learning outcomes across the curriculum in departments. This is up from 42% in 2008. 77% assess outcomes in all or most departments, while 16% do so in a few or no departments. Assessment of cumulative learning outcomes in general education has also increased, from 52% in 2008 to 67% in 2015. Institutions most commonly use rubrics applied to student work and culminating projects to assess general education outcomes. Use of rubrics has increased while use of standardized tests has decreased. When using AAC&U VALUE rubrics, critical thinking and written communication rubrics are used most often by institutions to assess general education student learning outcomes.

1. AAC&U Members on Trends in
Learning Outcomes Assessment
Key findings from a survey among 325 chief academic officers or designated representatives
at AAC&U member institutions, conducted July 15 to October 13, 2015,
by Hart Research Associates for the Association of American Colleges and Universities
1

2. 56%
77%
16%
10%
72%
Proportions of Member Institutions that Assess Learning
Outcomes in Departments
Assess learning
outcomes
Does your institution assess learning outcomes across the curriculum? If it does, are students’
cumulative learning outcomes assessed in departments?
Do not assess
learning outcomes
Assess learning
outcomes
Do not assess
learning outcomes
All/Most
departments
Planning
to do so
24% Planning to
11%
28%
87%
13%
2008 2015
85% assess
within
departments
68% assess
within
departments
A few/No
departments
A few/No
departments
All/Most
departments
2

3. Assessing Cumulative Learning Outcomes in General Education
52%
67%
Does your institution assess cumulative learning outcomes in general education across multiple
courses?
Planning
to do so
42%
48%
33%
Planning
to do so
25%
November – December 2008 July – October 2015
Assess learning
outcomes
Do not assess
learning outcomes
Assess learning
outcomes
Do not assess
learning outcomes
3

4. Member institutions use a variety of methods to assess student
learning outcomes in general education.
67%
Does your institution assess cumulative learning outcomes in general education across multiple
courses?
33%
Planning
to do so
25%
Which of these does your institution use?
Institutionally created rubrics applied
to samples of student work
Culminating or capstone projects
Student surveys and self-reports
Locally developed common assignments in
some courses
Locally developed examinations
AAC&U VALUE rubrics applied to samples
of student work
Standardized national tests of general
skills, such as critical thinking
Standardized national tests of general
knowledge, such as science or humanities
87%
78%
64%
62%
46%
42%
38%
33%
Assess learning
outcomes
Do not assess
learning outcomes
4

5. Use of Rubrics to Assess General Education Learning
Outcomes Increases; Use of General Skills Tests Decreases
33%
38%
46%
62%
64%
78%
91%
Proportions saying their institution uses each to assess learning outcomes in general education*
Rubrics applied to examples of student work (Institutionally created or AAC&U VALUE)
Culminating or capstone projects
Student surveys and self-reports
Locally developed common assignments in some courses
Locally developed examinations
Standardized national tests of general skills, such as critical thinking
Standardized national tests of general knowledge, such as science or humanities
2008
77%
70%
67%
52%
44%
49%
31%
* Among members at institutions that assess cumulative student learning outcomes in general education (87%)
5

6. VALUE Rubrics Used by Member Institutions to Assess
Student Learning Outcomes in General Education
6
Proportions saying their institution uses each VALUE rubric to assess student learning
outcomes in general education
Critical thinking
Written communication
Quantitative literacy
Oral communication
Information literacy
Ethical reasoning
Global learning
Intercultural knowledge
and competence
71%
69%
51%
50%
38%
30%
30%
30%
* Among members at institutions that use VALUE rubrics to assess student learning outcomes in general education (28%)
Inquiry and analysis
Civic engagement
Problem solving
Integrative learning
Creative thinking
Reading
Foundations and skills for
lifelong learning
Teamwork
Don’t know which specific
rubrics we are using
29%
29%
25%
22%
17%
13%
9%
7%
15%