Assessment Homepage

UT Dallas engages in continuous, integrated, and comprehensive planning and evaluation processes. As a part of these activities, UT Dallas’ administrative and academic units identify expected outcomes, assess the extent to which they achieve those outcomes, and provide evidence of improvement based on analysis of the results. This process incorporates a systematic review of the UT Dallas mission, goals, and outcomes in areas such as:

• Degree and certificate programs, to include student learning outcomes

  Degree and certificate programs are assessed to determine the quality and efficacy of the educational programs offered at UT Dallas. To achieve this, each program clearly defines and documents expected student learning outcomes, evaluations of those outcomes and findings from the assessment of those outcomes. Based on this information, all degree and certificate programs can determine:

  • The degree to which student learning outcomes are successfully achieved within each program
  • Areas in which each program can be improved upon
  • How UT Dallas’ use of assessment results has led to improvements in its educational programs
• Administrative and Academic Support

  Every year, administrative and academic support programs are asked to submit a report to the Office of Assessment. This report describes assessment results from the previous year, ways in which assessment data were used (if any), and plans for program improvements.

  Components of the report include outcomes, measures, targets, and results. Outcomes are the desired achievements that a program has for its activities, functions, services, and/or impact on the university community. Measures are the data sources/methods that are used to gather information about the outcomes. Measures can be quantitative (e.g. counts, ratings, time) or qualitative (e.g. interviews, written feedback, meeting notes). Targets are the desired level of performance for a measure and are used to determine whether an outcome has been achieved. They can be based off previous performance, prior experience, and/or standards from professional organizations. For quantitative measures, results contain summary statistics, which include totals, averages, and/or percentages. For qualitative measures, results may include themes and/or examples.

• Academic and student support services

  The assessment of academic and support services examines the quality of living and learning programs offered to students at UT Dallas. Programs, such as those offered by Student Affairs, are evaluated according to their ability to prepare graduates for life, work and leadership. The following goals are assessed and used to improve the academic and student support services:

  • Ensure high standards of customer service throughout the Division of Student Affairs by providing staff development programs, reducing student complaints related to service, and keeping quality service at the forefront of all unit endeavors.
  • Develop a comprehensive, intentional assessment program with a greater focus on student learning and development and retention efforts within Student Affairs units. Ensure appropriate staff members receive ongoing training and development in the areas of student learning and development and assessment.
  • Using the CAS (Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education) Professional Standards for Higher Education as a standard, ensure Student Affairs units are aligned with the university and division missions.
  • Students engaged in programs and services provided by the Division of Student Affairs will develop and demonstrate life skills and characteristics associated with the student learning and development outcome domains outlined by CAS, which include the following:
  • knowledge acquisition, integration, construction, and application
  • cognitive complexity
  • intrapersonal development
  • interpersonal competence
  • humanitarianism and civic engagement
  • practical competence

The Assessment Team provides university-wide support to assist the institution’s administrative and academic units with demonstrating their institutional effectiveness.