The Texas A&M University System delivers a common set/embraces a common view of important outcomes and is accountable for sustained measurement.
For all TAMU System universities, the rationale for assessing student learning outcomes (SLOs) originates primarily from efforts to maintain institutional effectiveness, which is defined as a process of identifying outcomes, assessing the extent to which they are achieved, and providing evidence of improvement based on their analysis.
Upon completion of their degree program, students will be able to demonstrate critical thinking, including the ability to explain issues; find, analyze, and select appropriate evidence; and construct a cogent argument that articulates conclusions and their consequences. Students will be able to utilize, qualitative and quantitative reasoning as a base for problem solving.
EXEMPLARY
All criteria met and results exceed expectations with little room for improvement.
PROFICIENT
Most criteria met and results indicate mastery of objective with some room for improvement.
SUFFICIENT
Acceptable number of criteria met and results meet expectations with room for improvement.
EMERGING
Some criteria met and results indicate need for improvement.
INSUFFICIENT
Few criteria met; results indicate need for significant improvement or no/insufficient results reported to measure performance of objective.
TAMUK
Course-level testing in General Education courses, and ETS Proficiency Profile testing of freshmen and seniors.
Sufficient/Emerging
Testing in General Education courses demonstrate that a large majority of students meet course standards for critical thinking, suggesting a rating of SUFFICIENT or better. However, ETS scores place TAMUK seniors below national averages, suggesting a rating of EMERGING. Calibrating this assessment is problematic because critical thinking receives the lowest ETS academic skill scores nationally and locally. The overall result for TAMUK is Sufficient/Emerging.
We will continue to use General Education course-level testing and ETS testing. General Education testing will expand beyond the in-house assessment instruments to the use of Value Rubrics.
ETS testing shows a slight improvement in the critical thinking score from 2014-15 to 2015-16.