Student Learning Outcome
UNCW-wide Learning GoalTools Implementation Summary of Findings Actions TakenSLO 1: A graduate student
should be able to develop a
research plan.
Link to UNCW Learning
Goals: inquiry and
thoughtful expression.
Dissertation proposal is
successfully completed and
defended to student’s
committee. The student’s
committee evaluates
proposal with a form.Each student in the program
is assessed by each of
his/her committee
members. Data on proposal
quality, synthesis of
literature, definition of
project, and suitability of
methods to be employed
are collected. We began
implementation of the
assessment of this SLO in
the 2010 - 2011 year.During 2013-2014, we had 4
respondents for this SLO.
Student performance was
assessed as strong, with 75-
100% of responses at levels
4 or 5 for writing, literature
synthesis, project definition
and methods. We had few
responses for assessment
for the PhD program in
2012 - 13, so data were
combined for the longer
two year period of 2011-- There were a total of
14 responses for report for
this SLO in 2011-2013.
Faculty determined that the
Ph.D. students were
generally performing well
on this SLO. Performance
(determined as fraction of
students performing at
levels 4 or 5 on a scale of 5)
on writing skills and project
definitions were at 100%;
literature synthesis was 86%
and methods to be used
was 93%.
Results were discussed at
the Faculty retreat in August- No actions will be
taken at this point as the
data are limited to two
years. We will continue to
collect these data in the
coming years.
SLO2: A graduate student
should be able to
independently answer
questions regarding their
research field. Link to
UNCW Learning Goals:
information literacy, critical
thinking, and thoughtful
Written and oral
comprehensive exams are
successfully completed. The
student’s committee
evaluates performance in
the exams with a form.Each student in the program
is assessed by each of
his/her committee
members. Data on the
student’s ability to
articulate information in
both oral and written
formats, on the depth andDuring 2013-2014 we had 9
respondents for this SLO.
Faculty assessed student
performance as good for
written articulation (71% at
level 4 or 5), and poise
(78%). However, oral
articulation, breadth andIn the August 2014
Departmental Graduate
Assessment Report, the
Graduate Assessment
Coordinator recommended
that performance on the
candidacy exams be
monitored for another few