Academic Assessment at Washburn University
Academic assessment refers to a process of using direct and indirect evidence from a variety of sources to evaluate and improve upon student learning. At Washburn University, we strive to promote assessment practices that are holistic, collaborative, and purposeful. We provide support for the assessment of individual courses, programs, learning environment and climate, and University Student Learning Outcomes (USLOs).
If you have any questions please email us at assessment@washburn.edu.
USLO Assessment Initiatives 2025-2026:
- Information literacy & technology (ILT): Exam to be given to senior students
- Global Citizenship, Ethics & Diversity (GED): Exam to be given to senior students
- Report to be written on ILT and GED USLO scores collected from General Education courses
Reports from Assessment Initiatives in 2024-2025:
Assessment Grants
Deadlines: September 19, 2025 for expending before June 1, 2026. April 3, 2025 for expending between July 1, 2026 and June 1, 2027.
The development of effective assessment systems as a key strategy for maintaining our academic excellence. The assessment of student learning and the use of assessment evidence to improve teaching are important practices that the Assessment Grant seeks to encourage. The purpose of the Assessment Grant is to provide faculty with resources to facilitate their assessment practices in the courses, programs, and general education offerings.
Eligibility: Full and part-time faculty on ongoing, annual contracts; Full time staff.
Funding Amounts: Maximum of $2,000; $1500 is the maximum amount for a stipend.
Read about recently funded projects
Submit an expense request for your grant
Past assessment grant recipients
2025–2026
- Andrew Moos, Assistant Professor/Director of Composition, College of Arts and Sciences
- Research study on student readiness for professional practice.
- Amy White, Director of Simulation/Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
- Research study on student readiness for professional practice.
- Crystal Buck, Lecturer, Department of Music and Theatre, College of Arts and Sciences
- Funding for a subscription to Wayground.
- Hoang Nguyen, Assistant Professor, Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
- Stipends for redesigning course CH 291(Professionalism in Science)
- Jessie Piper, Assistant Professor, Family and Human Services, College of Arts and Sciences
- Stipends and retreat for redesigning the course HS 131 (Human Development)
2024–2025
- Kristen Grimmer, Associate Professor, Mass Media, College of Arts and Sciences
- Funding for an assessment retreat
- Stipends for assessment plan revisions
- Jason Miller, Associate Professor, Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences
- Stipend for the creation of a Community Studies Minor Assessment Plan.
Assessment Awards
The Assessment Achiever Award recognizes and honors the efforts of academic departments that have made substantial gains, or demonstrated consistent achievement, in assessment practices at the course, program, and university levels. Departments who receive the award will be given $500 for their general fund.
2024-2025 Award Winners
- Assessment Achiever Awards: Art Department and School of Business
Assessment Achiever Award Eligibility:
- Provide syllabi upon request
- Submission of Program Assessment materials in at least the most recent academic year
- Designation of "meets expectations" or "exceed expectations" for assessment of student learning in their most recent program review
- Have at least one faculty member who earned a CTEL Certificate of Teaching and Learning, or earned at least 10 badges, in the last two years. Preference will be given to departments who have not received an Assessment Achiever award in the prior three years.
Assess. Committee
