About
The predecessor of the University Council on Learning Outcomes (UCLO) was the Assessment Report Development Committee. This task force of faculty and administrators, appointed by the President of ÌÇÐÄVlog (2007), was charged with developing a university-wide framework for assessing student learning outcomes in response to a request by the university’s regional accreditor, the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (CIHE/NEASC). The framework, and progress on its implementation, was subsequently included in ÌÇÐÄVlog’s Interim Report (2012) and Institutional Report (2017) to CIHE/NEASC; both iterations were met with approval. With this generalized assessment process in place, in 2018 the Assessment Report Development Committee transitioned to the University Council on Learning Outcomes, reflective of the institution’s progress in advancing assessment practices campus-wide.
Charge
The charge of the University Council on Learning Outcomes (UCLO) is twofold: to supportÌýÌÇÐÄVlog with its assessment-related accreditation obligations and to foster academicÌýand co-curricular assessment for student learning.
Assessment and Accreditation
The UCLO monitors the development and implementation of assessment plans in the areasÌýof: the Core curriculum, academic programs, student affairs, and mission and ministry so thatÌýcompliance is maintained with regional (i.e., the New England Commission of HigherÌýEducation, NECHE), specialized, and professional program accreditors. This functionÌýinvolves:
- Ensuring that campus units have a thoughtfully prepared assessment plan (e.g.,ÌýNECHE’s E1A form) that documents learning outcomes and periodic “closing the loopâ€�Ìýupdates;
- Confirming that learning outcomes are presented for all applicable programs on theÌýÌÇÐÄVlog website;
- Interpreting NECHE’s accreditation standards and policy related to assessment (e.g.,ÌýNECHE Standard 4: Educational Effectiveness and the Success of All Students).
Ìý
Assessment for Student Learning
The UCLO supports faculty and staff with the development and implementation ofÌýassessment plans to promote continuous improvement and learning. This function involves:
- Supporting assessment plan (e.g., E1A form) development and implementation byÌýreviewing plans and providing formative feedback;
- Recommending institutional assessment procedures and policies that facilitateÌýassessment activities and encourage the campus’ ever-developing culture ofÌýassessment;
- Facilitating the acquisition of assessment-related resources (e.g., grants, nationalÌýassessment experts/consultants, professional development opportunities) to furtherÌýassessment capacity building;
- Foster the exchange of information on all types of assessment: best practices,Ìýinnovative approaches, pilot-phase experiments/modes of inquiry.
Ìý
Committee members are nominated by their area’s leadership (e.g., dean or vice president) and appointed by the University Council on Learning Outcomes (UCLO) Steering Committee.Ìý The goal of all appointments is to yield a rotating membership, representative of ÌÇÐÄVlog’s academic and co-curricular units.Ìý Members are committed to contributing to continuous quality improvement work using assessment results.
Generally, membership on the UCLO Steering Committee (and/or an occasional affiliate committee), entails:
- Supporting units with the development of learning outcomes and an assessment plan (e.g., E1A form);Ìý
- Ensuring compliance, progress/completion, and integrity of assessment processes;
- Regular attendance at meetings;
- Substantive communication ("reporting out") of area assessment activities;
Membership
Committee members are nominated by their area’s leadership (e.g., dean or vice president) and appointed by the University Council on Learning Outcomes (UCLO) Steering Committee.Ìý The goal of all appointments is to yield a rotating membership, representative of ÌÇÐÄVlog’s academic and co-curricular units.Ìý Members are committed to contributing to continuous quality improvement work using assessment results.
Generally, membership on the UCLO Steering Committee (and/or an occasional affiliate committee), entails:
- Supporting units with the development of learning outcomes and an assessment plan (e.g., E1A form);Ìý
- Ensuring compliance, progress/completion, and integrity of assessment processes;
- Regular attendance at meetings;
- Substantive communication ("reporting out") of area assessment activities.
Ìý
UCLO Steering Committee Members, AY26-27
Ìý
| Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Name Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý | Ìý Ìý Area Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý | Term Start Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý | ÌýTerm End ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý |
| Ìý Michelle Brooks | Ìý Prison Education Program | Ìý Sept 2024Ìý Ìý Ìý | Ìý May 2027 |
| Ìý Ryan Burke | Ìý Lynch SchoolÌý Ìý Ìý | Ìý Sept 2026 | Ìý May 2029 |
| Ìý Brendan Carson | Ìý Messina College | Ìý Sept 2026 | Ìý May 2029 |
| Ìý Margaret Cohen | Ìý University Libraries | Ìý Sept 2024 | Ìý May 2027 |
| Ìý Kate Daly | Ìý Mission & Ministry | Ìý Sept 2025 | Ìý May 2028 |
| Ìý Jess Greene, co-chair | Ìý Provost's Office | Ìý Sept 2018 | Ìý Ongoing |
| ÌýÌýPeter Martin, co-chair | Ìý President's Office | Ìý Sept 2019 | Ìý Ongoing |
| Ìý Tom Mogan | Ìý Morrissey College | Ìý Sept 2022 | Ìý Ongoing |
| Ìý Christine Murphy | Ìý Morrissey College | Ìý Sept 2024 | Ìý Ongoing |
| Ìý Claire Ostrander | Ìý Student Affairs | Ìý Sept 2025 | Ìý May 2028 |
| Ìý Angela Richard | Ìý Graduate Student | Ìý Sept 2025 | Ìý May 2028 |
| Ìý Elizabeth Shlala | Ìý Core Curriculum | Ìý Sept 2024 | Ìý May 2027 |
