Collegiate Learning Assessment CLA Dr Becky Verzinski Assistant

Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA+) Dr. Becky Verzinski, Assistant Vice President for Assessment Center for Academic Programs Assessment (CAPA), Office of the Provost INTRODUCTION CONCLUSION RESULTS The CLA helps institutions estimate their The data in the table below represents student contributions to the development of students’ performance in written communication and critical higher order thinking skills as overall evidence of thinking skills based on the PT writing rubric. critical thinking and written communication competencies. METHODS The CLA+ Performance Task (PT) presents students with a real-world situation that requires a purposeful written response where they address an issue, propose a solution to the problem, and recommend a course of action to resolve a conflict by utilizing the documents provided in the online problem solving, writing effectiveness, and writing mechanics. One hundred freshmen and one hundred seniors were tested each year to examine the value-added growth for BSU students over the course of their academic career. Although the scores are lower for freshmen in AY 2016 -17, the results also Table 1: CLA+ Performance Task Results 2014 -2017 Analysis & Effective Writing 2014 -15 Problem Writing Mechanics Solving show that nearly 80% of seniors reached the desired basic to advanced mastery level. Freshmen 71% 81% 93% Seniors 87% 91% DISCUSSION 79% 2015 -16 Freshmen 77% 79% 94% The results of the three-year CLA+ assessment Seniors 75% 90% triangulates the results of other national 76% 2016 -17 Freshmen 65% 66% 94% Seniors 81% 89% 97% 2014 -15 % Below Mastery Level % Basic to Advanced Level Overall Score 52% 981 library. Students have 60 minutes to write a strong argument demonstrating critical analysis and Overall the scores demonstrate the expected Freshmen 48% Seniors 26% 74% 1033 Freshmen 46% 54% 991 Seniors 73% 1010 2015 -16 27% 2016 -17 Freshmen 54% 46% 960 Seniors 79% 1037 22% standardized assessments where BSU students are at the expected national mean for similar institutions. In fall 2016, freshmen scores were lower than expected; spring 2017 senior scores were the highest since testing began in 2014. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CAPA would like to thank the many faculty members who volunteered their class time for the CLA assessment.