University General Learning Objectives
Student Learning Objectives
As a result of their general education experience, Ohio Northern University students will be able to:
- Think and express themselves clearly
- Solve problems analytically and creatively
As a result of their overall educational experience, Ohio Northern University students will graduate from the University being able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge, skills and values for a program of study or career
In addition, Ohio Northern University students will graduate from the University prepared to:
- Know and rely on themselves
- Listen, understand and work with others
- Demonstrate technological knowledge and skills
- Contribute to the good of humankind
- Practice truthful and ethical behavior
- Demonstrate cultural understanding and an appreciation for diversity
Measures
The COLLEGIATE LEARNING ASSESSMENT (CLA) is a national effort that provides colleges and universities with information about performance on tasks that require students to think critically, reason analytically, solve realistic problems and write clearly. The CLA uses various types of tasks, all of which require students to construct written responses to open-ended questions. Each performance task requires students to use critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving and written communication skills to answer several open-ended questions about a hypothetical but realistic situation. The Analytic Writing Task requires students to respond to two types of essay prompts: a "Make-an-Argument" question that asks them to support or reject a position on some issue; and a "Critique-an-Argument" question that asks them to evaluate the validity of an argument made by someone else.
CLA uses a national database of participating schools to examine whether the students at Ohio Northern University performed (as a group) better or worse than expected. An "expected" CLA score is based on two factors: the mean SAT/ACT score for students at the institution and the typical relationship between a institution's average SAT/ACT score and its average CLA score. Based on those results, CLA designates five performance levels for an institution: well below expected, below expected, at expected, above expected and well above expected.
The NATIONAL SURVEY OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT (NSSE) and the LAW SCHOOL SURVEY OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT (LSSSE) were designed to assess the extent to which students are engaged in empirically derived good educational practices. In one section of the survey, students indicate the extent to which their experience at Ohio Northern contributed to their knowledge, skills and personal development in several areas that correspond with the University's general learning objectives.
The Pettit College of Law participates in LSSSE every spring. Students from the other four colleges participate in NSSE every other year.
The COLLEGE SENIOR SURVEY (CSS), developed by the Higher Education Research Institute, was designed to help institutions respond to the need for assessment and accountability data by providing information on a broad range of student outcomes. Outcomes include a section of questions where students indicate whether or not their abilities in several areas (related to the University's general learning objectives) are stronger compared to when they first started at Ohio Northern. Graduating students (except in law) participate in the CSS every other year (alternating with NSSE).
The ALUMNI SURVEY was developed locally to determine the degree to which various learning outcomes associated with the University's general learning objectives are obtained. Graduates indicate to what extent they consider the importance of each outcome to their development and the extent to which their experience at Ohio Northern has contributed to their development for each outcome. The Alumni Survey is conducted every three years.
The EMPLOYER SURVEY was developed to coincide with the alumni survey and asks employers of graduates to indicate the importance of outcomes related to the University's general learning objectives and the extent to which the Ohio Northern graduate in their employ demonstrates each of the outcomes. The Employer Survey is conducted every three years in conjunction with the Alumni Survey.
Most students planning on attending graduate school take the GRADUATE RECORD EXAM. The General Test measures verbal, quantitative and writing skills. Results presented in this report only include those students choosing to report their scores back to Ohio Northern University. Normally only half of the students estimated to have taken the exam report their scores to ONU. During the 2005-06 academic year, 49 Ohio Northern students or graduates reported their GRE scores to the University.
Several academic programs require students to pass NATIONAL or STATE COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS before they are able to practice in their discipline. These programs include athletic training, clinical laboratory science, education, engineering, law and pharmacy. Additionally students from the business college and students majoring in a biology discipline take ETS® Major Field Tests to indicate their proficiency in a given subject area. Specific details of testing and results are located in each major or program assessment report.
The Office of Career Services reports PLACEMENT RATES for graduates (at 6 months after commencement) each year.
The Office of Residence Life administers an annual RESIDENCE-LIFE SURVEY electronically to students residing in campus housing, which includes a section to evaluate the extent to which campus living contributes to a student's personal growth and development.
Data is collected using COURSE-EMBEDDED ASSESSMENTS from courses within the department of communication arts and the department of english, which is designed to measure students' abilities in writing and public speaking. Assessments include papers, book-report evaluations, book-analysis assignments, and informative and persuasive speeches.
Results
Follow the links below to view the full text of the assessment results for each academic year.
Proposed Adjustments
Follow the links below to view the full text of the proposed adjustments from each college and the student affairs division for the most recent academic year.
2006-07