Assessment Cycle
Assessment is most effective when it focuses on continuous improvement, rather than simply assuring quality. This ongoing cycle is critical for fostering a culture of assessment within an institution. By clearly defining learning outcomes, faculty can design meaningful assignments aligned with those outcomes. Direct measures, such as student artifacts, are then collected and analyzed. Based on the analysis, adjustments to the curriculum or teaching methods are made to improve student learning. This process of continuous feedback enhances both individual courses and the broader general education curriculum, ensuring that students receive a consistent, comprehensive, and rigorous undergraduate education.
The Mason Core assessment framework is guided by three essential questions. For each category, all questions are addressed to analyze student artifacts and develop findings and improvements.
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- Are students demonstrating achievement of the defined learning outcomes?
- How has student learning changed since the previous assessment cycle?
- What changes do the findings suggest for continuous improvement?
Mason Core Data Collection Timeline
The timeline outlines the Mason Core assessment cycle, which rotates three groups over six years. Each group is assessed every three years and participates across two academic years. During a category’s data collection period, all Mason Core instructors submit a syllabus, an assignment description, and at least three student artifacts from each course. This process will ensure regular opportunities for reflection, review of results and implementation of improvements.
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- Mid-cycle update at Year 3
- Full-cycle report at Year 6
Assessment Cycle 2026–2032
|
Academic Year |
Collect Data |
Analyze and Interpret |
Share and Use Results |
|
2026–2027 |
Group A |
|
|
|
2027–2028 |
Group B |
Group A |
|
|
2028–2029 |
Group C |
Group B |
Group A |
|
2029–2030 |
Group A |
Group C |
Group B |
|
2030–2031 |
Group B |
Group A |
Group C |
|
2031–2032 |
Group C |
Group B |
Group A |
Groups
Group A: Apex, Global Contexts
Group B: Information Technology and Computing, Quantitative Reasoning, Literature, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Group C: Arts, Global History, Writing Intensive, Natural Science
Ongoing: Written Communication, Oral Communication
(Updated August 2025)