Student Learning Assessment at Western Carolina University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Western Carolina University is committed to creating engaged learning opportunities that incorporate teaching, research, and service through residential, distance education and international experiences.� The University is proud of its nationally and regionally recognized educational programs with particular strengths in teacher education, health sciences, and experiential learning.� At WCU, quality of academic and co-curricular programs and services is a core value and measurement of institutional quality is ensured through a continuous program of assessment that provides meaningful information for planning and decision-making.� The link below will direct you to the WCU Office of Assessment website� where you can browse assessment information related to a range of academic programs and student services.
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution with students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1056
Senior Score: 1184
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 21
Senior Score: 21
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1101
Senior Score: 1091
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is below what would be expected at an institution with students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1089
Senior Score: 1131
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 22
Senior Score: 21
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1052
Senior Score: 1046
