Florida International University engages in systematic assessment of student learning to support the continuous improvement of its academic programs and general education curriculum. Academic assessment includes establishing expected student learning outcomes, identifying appropriate methods and criteria for assessing those outcomes, collecting and analyzing evidence of student learning, using results to inform improvement, and documenting the implementation and follow-up of improvement strategies.
Assessment is a collaborative process involving faculty, academic leadership, assessment liaisons, and other staff who support the collection, analysis, reporting, and use of assessment information. Faculty are responsible for establishing and assessing student learning outcomes within their academic programs and courses and for using assessment results to identify opportunities for improvement. Institutional Effectiveness, within Academic Planning and Accountability, provides university-wide guidance, consultation, review, and support for the assessment process. Each college or school also has a representative or assessment liaison who serves on the University Assessment Committee and helps coordinate assessment activities within the academic unit.
FIU's Institutional Learning and Administrative Outcomes (ILAO) Framework provides a shared institutional structure for categorizing and analyzing both Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and Program Outcomes (POs). SLOs are categorized according to the framework's Institutional Learning Outcome domains and competencies, connecting program-level evidence of student learning to broader areas of learning across the University. POs are categorized according to the framework's Program and Administrative Outcome domains and outcome areas, allowing programs to identify and examine broader indicators of program effectiveness, student success, workforce and career readiness, and other institutional priorities. This common framework supports consistent outcome classification, cross-program analysis, institutional reporting, and the use of assessment evidence for continuous improvement.
Assessment Across Methods of Delivery
FIU assesses student learning across the methods of delivery and locations through which academic programs are offered. Assessment reporting is structured to allow the University to examine student learning in face-to-face offerings and applicable methods of delivery and locations, including Online, Online LIVE, hybrid, off-campus instructional locations, and offshore programs. Programs are expected to ensure that assessment evidence appropriately represents the methods of delivery and locations applicable to the program and to review the resulting evidence for meaningful differences in student learning.
Academic Assessment Guidelines
Specific assessment requirements, reporting expectations, and guidance are provided for each area of academic assessment:
- Undergraduate Program Assessment
- Graduate Program Assessment
- Certificate Program Assessment
- General Education Course Assessment
Programs should consult the applicable guidelines for detailed information regarding student learning outcomes, assessment methods and criteria for success, reporting of results, use of results for improvement, and follow-up expectations.
Sampling may be used when assessing an entire population is not appropriate or feasible. Programs using sampling should select a method that provides sufficient and appropriate evidence to support interpretation of assessment results and improvement decisions. See the Sampling Guidelines for Assessment for additional guidance.