A Model for Programmatic Evaluation by Student Assessment

The goal of the Department of Biological Sciences faculty was to evaluate how effectively our undergraduate biology program supports the goals and intended outcomes of our department and institution. Student responses in written assessment tests have provided the foundation of this evaluation. Each semester questions were selected by a departmental faculty committee to address student outcomes. The questions were administered in the first examination/quiz of the semester in several introductory through upper level courses. Student grades were analyzed by class rank (freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior) and course level (100, 200, 300, and 400) for biology, non-science, and other science majors. This protocol provided a useful way to (1) assess student knowledge and understanding of biology and (2) evaluate the biology program. The protocol, sample questions, answers, grading protocol, cumulative results with discussion (fall 2000 semester−fall 2010 semester), initiatives instituted in response to assessment results, and dissemination of results are presented for illustrative purposes. We offer this approach as a model for student assessment and program evaluation for other departments to consider.