Assessment

Student learning from across their program courses, general education courses and cocurricular experiences leads our students to five common learning outcomes. These common learning outcomes are the skills and knowledge students will have achieved when they complete their Hope College degree. The overarching student outcome is our mission “to educate students for lives of leadership and service in a global society through academic and cocurricular programs of recognized excellence in the liberal arts and in the context of the historic Christian faith.” Assessment of learning at all levels ensures students achieve these outcomes.

Academic programs, general education and cocurricular programs each developed an assessment plan. These plans include schedules of assessment for each student learning outcome and for review of assessment results. Annual reports of completed assessments are entered into the Hope College Assessment Portal.

Assessment Portal

Completed Assessment Reports

Hope College Assessment Reports 

Assessment Leadership

Assessment is guided by the college Assessment Committee, a standing committee of the Academic Affairs Board, in collaboration with the senior director of assessment and accreditation who reports to the provost.

Committee functions include:

• Educating the campus community about assessment and its importance
• Assisting academic departments and administrative units with developing assessment plans and using assessment instruments
• Assisting academic departments and administrative units with interpretation of assessment results and implementing plans to improve teaching and learning based on those findings
• Developing and periodically reviewing instruments to assess the outcomes of the general education program
• Monitoring the various assessment plans and when needed recommending changes to the Academic Affairs Board

Assessment Committee Membership

Assessment Committee members serve in rotating appointments to increase participation in assessment activities. Staff members are appointed by their vice president for the period of their appointment, providing continuity while the faculty and student members serve in rotations.

Committee membership includes:

• Senior director of assessment and accreditation (chair)
• Eight faculty members — two from each division for three-year terms
• Two students appointed by Student Congress for one-year terms
• One staff member from Institutional Research
• One staff member from the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement
• One staff member from the Student Development Office
• Faculty director of General Education