The good news is that we do have common assessment terms for SDSM&T (see below).

The use of terms in common will greatly facilitate cross-campus discussions and will let us escape the inevitable confusion and divisions that arise from defining the same words many different ways.

These common terms are ABET-endorsed terms that have been slightly modified to allow for use in non-ABET-accredited programs. ABET is stricter about terminology than the HLC (formerly the NCA) so it seems sensible to accommodate the requirements of the 9 ABET-accredited programs on campus. The use of these terms and definitions by non-ABET-accredited programs (and, with minor modifications, perhaps by Student Affairs as well) will have a strong positive impact on achieving clarity and cooperation campus wide in regards to assessment.

If one of these terms simply will not work for your non-ABET-accredited program (e.g., “program educational objectives,” simply do not use it. The important thing is for all of us to use the word “outcomes” to refer to the specific knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes a student will have at the end of a course or a program. The word “objectives” here can be mentally replaced by the oft-used word “goals,” but using the word “objectives” will help everyone.

Program Educational Objectives:

Program Outcomes:

Course Objectives:

• statements about the broad educational goals of a course

Course Outcomes:

Performance Criteria:

Evaluation:

A great resource for discovering the many definitions of assessment terms: