Guidelines, Templates & Other

Learning Assessment is the practice of consistently collecting information about course and program content, design, delivery, and outcomes in order to analyze and improve teaching and learning. Learning assessment supports faculty commitment to academic excellence in alignment with TU's educational Mission and national reputation for our "focus on student learning, [and] innovative programs and pedagogy," as well as TU's Core Value of "passion for continuous learning."

Core Curriculum Learning Assessment

Core Course Proposals & Approvals

The New Courses & Changes to Existing Courses page outlines the process and templates for course approvals, including required components for core course proposals and revisions.

The Core Curriculum Reporting Committee reviews all proposals for new inclusion of a course in TU's Core Curriculum or modifications to an existing Core Curriculum course. Additionally, core course assessment plans are reviewed and approved in CIM by the Associate and/or Assistant Dean(s) for each college. Towson Seminar (TSEM) topic proposals and revisions are reviewed by the TSEM Director, and TSEM assessment plans are reviewed by the Office of Assessment, both as part of the CIM workflow for curricular approval.

Core Course Assessment Resources

Approved core courses are required to regularly assess student learning outcome achievement for the core curriculum and to annually report results to the Office of Assessment. Detailed information about assessment in the core curriculum, including guidance for developing core course assessment plans, can be found here: Core Assessment Planning Guidance.

The template and resources below should be used to develop core assessment plans and attached to proposals for new and revised core course in CIM.

Faculty can access existing approved core assessment plans and guidance for reporting results below.

Core Assessment Plan Library
Core Assessment Results: Reporting Template (2024-25)
AY 24-25 Core Assessment Results: Qualtrics Link (Due 9/30/25)

Program Proposals & Reviews

The Academic Program Development page provides detailed guidance on academic program proposals and modifications, including components and processes for external approval.

Information and resources related to TU's comprehensive 7-year cycle for the review of existing academic programs can be found on the Review of Academic Departments page.

Program Learning Assessment

Program Assessment Results are reported annually via Qualtrics.

AY 24-25 Program Assessment Results: Qualtrics Link (Due 2/6/26)

Institutional Effectiveness

The Committee on Institutional Effectiveness identifies assessment opportunities and outlines best practices for assessment in the administrative divisions and units, which TU calls Unit Assessment. The CIE is also responsible for annual monitoring of division assessment reports and outcomes, and for providing feedback to the divisions.