Study Abroad Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Introduction

Cycle of Student Learning Outcomes Assessment: Develop/revise goals for student learning. Develop/ revise outcome measures appropriate to goals. Offer students opportunities to achieve goals. Apply measures to assess student learning outcomes Analyze and use results to understand and improve student learning.

Conceptual Framework for Student Learning Assessment Faculty Provost Planning, Institutional Research, Student Learning Outcomes Assessment School/department Committees on Student Learning Assessment Administrative Groups: Academic Leadership Group Mission Catholic and National Research University University Goals Campus Life Program Directors University Assessment Council Sub-Committees on: Undergraduate Programs Graduate Programs Special Topics Analyze and use results Offer opportunities to learn Develop Goals/Measures Assess Student Learning

Examples of defined learning outcomes Disciplinary Knowledge: Placement of a discipline in an international context Synthesize academic/disciplinary concepts with real world phenomena Gain an international perspective of a career/discipline Study disciplinary content not available at the main university campus Language Acquisition: Immersion/mastery Introduction/competence Intercultural Competence: Explore the nature of culture, in general Gain specific knowledge of host culture Become conscious of one’s own cultural perspective Engage diverse expressions of culture Adapt effectively in cross cultural settings Social/Emotional Growth: Build independence Gain self-confidence Develop self-awareness Develop empathy Increase tolerance for social ambiguity Examples drawn from University Leadership Council brief on: Defining and Assessing the Student Learning Outcomes of the Study Abroad Experience

Examples of Study Abroad Student Learning Outcomes Assessments Quantitative: National Studies/Instruments: Beliefs, Events, and Values Inventory (BEVI) Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Global Perspective Inventory (GPI) Sociocultural Adaptation Scale (SCAS) Quantitative: University Defined Instrument: Goals Survey: Pre-departure and post-experience surveys designed to assess student goal setting and achievement. University course evaluations Services Survey: Pre-departure and post-experience surveys designed to measure: The quality of study abroad services provided by the university The quality of study abroad services provided by university partners/provides and affiliated programs Qualitative Assessment: Portfolios Focus groups Examples drawn from University Leadership Council brief on: Defining and Assessing the Student Learning Outcomes of the Study Abroad Experience

Suggested List of Peers  Regional Comparison Group (17 institutions): – starting sample: 7,052 institutions – limit by sector of institution = ‘Private, not-for-profit, 4-year or above’: 1,648 institutions – further limit by Carnegie 2000 classification = ‘Doctoral/Research Universities –Extensive’ or ‘Doctoral/Research Universities – Intensive’: 91 institutions – further limit to universities that enroll undergraduates: 86 institutions – further limit to institutions with a total enrollment of graduate and first-professional students >= 25%: 78 institutions – further limit to institutions whose percent of total revenue from tuition and fees >=35%: 42 institutions – further limit by institutions originating in the Mid-East geographic region (DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA): 18 institutions – exclude Catholic University: 17 institutions  This set of criteria creates the following list of institutions: – Adelphi UniversityAmerican UniversityDrexel University – Duquesne UniversityFordham UniversityGeorge Washington University – Georgetown UniversityHofstra UniversityPace University –New York – Polytechnic UniversitySeton Hall UniversitySt. John’s University –New York – Stevens Institute of TechnologySyracuse UniversityThe New School – Widener University-Main CampusWilmington College