What do American college students actually know and what can they do? What is the meaning of the baccalaureate degree? What policies and practices should colleges and universities have in place to assess learning outcomes of undergraduate students and how should the evidence of learning be used to improve the quality of teaching and learning?

In response to a continued interest in collegiate learning outcomes assessment and to a recent national push for implementing such programs, this project seeks to evaluate existing and new assessment tools, processes, and reporting templates to support the emergence of general principles and practices, further a national dialogue, and advance campus-based action. The project’s goal is to help institutions anticipate, manage, and avoid pitfalls and problems they encounter assessing and reporting their performance. The findings will be presented in the form of short, instructive case studies of promising practices in collegiate assessment, public reporting, and data-informed improvement efforts.