Five-Column Assessment Plan for Instructional Programs

Last Updated 1/16/2004

Using the Five-Column Model form, follow these steps to document how an academic program will be assessed.

Column 1	Fill in the program title, academic year and name of the program representative. Next, cross off the college goals that are not applicable to the program.
Column 2	Identify what students should think, know or do when they complete the program (intended educational outcomes.) Brainstorm a “long list” of intended educational outcomes. Guidelines · Identify outcomes before you identify means of assessment. · Review the “long list” of outcomes and identify common themes. · A series of commas and conjunctions may indicate an outcome being too inclusive. · Keep outcomes specific enough to assess. · Keep wording simple, straightforward, and non-technical. From the “long list” of outcomes, select three outcomes to assess. Record the outcomes in the second column.
Column 3	Using current resources, determine what assessment methods to use to assess outcomes, Next, define criteria for success. Consider how you will identify the student population to assess (enrollment in highest level course in a sequence of courses, graduates, etc.) Record assessment methods and criteria for success in the third column. File your assessment plan in your assessment binder provided by the Associate Deans’ Office.
Category		Example Assessment Methods
Think / Attitudinal		Student surveys, graduate surveys and employer surveys, exit interviews
Know / Cognitive		Standardized exams, licensure exams, locally developed tests, capstone experience, juried review of work, internship experience
Do / Behavior		Job placement rates, graduation or transfer rates, observing performance, portfolio assessment