Assessment Timeline

Nearly every academic program at Penn State is required to conduct an annual assessment of program learning outcomes (PLOs). The basic process involves choosing which PLOs to measure, gathering and interpreting evidence, implementing evidence-driven changes or interventions, and filing an annual report. Assessment Liaisons review the reports to provide feedback on the assessment process (not the assessment findings). Programs can use that feedback to refine their processes.

Reports are always due June 30th. A typical assessment cycle starts in September with receiving assessment feedback and revising your assessment process in the fall. Through the end of fall and into the spring semester, programs collect evidence on learning outcomes. This provides sufficient time in May and June to write the report. Assessment Liaisons spend the summer reviewing reports and the cycle renews in September.