Assessment

At CSUMB, assessment of student learning is a significant university wide course-based activity. All students have a variety of assessment options.

Assessment Options

To respond to the diversity of student learning styles and approaches, life situations and experiences, and need for alternatives in higher education pursuits, there are three learning and assessment options available to students at CSUMB. The three options require that faculty members have a broad repertoire of innovative teaching and learning approaches as well as assessment options to address varied outcomes for varied learners. These three options are:

• Formal courses with assessment
• Alternative pathways with independent assessment
• Prior learning assessment

Formal Courses with Assessment
In the most common scenario, students have not yet developed the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve the ULRs and MLOs and prefer the more traditional way to work toward the requirements through coursework. Thus, CSUMB offers formal courses designed to assist student in the achievement of the required outcomes through the teaching, learning, and assessment components of those courses.

Alternative Pathways with Independent Assessment
In some cases, students prefer an independent or alternative learning experience to work toward ULRs, MLOs, or individual educational goals. Toward this end, CSUMB policy supports student pursuit of informal learning experiences on or off campus, research or field-based project with faculty and other students, coursework at other institutions, and individually designed learning plans. With any of the options for alternative learning, students must be able to demonstrate achievement of targeted outcomes. Students register to plan and pursue the alternative pathway and to demonstrate achievement of ULRs and MLOs through an independent assessment process.

Prior Learning Assessment
In some cases, students believe that, prior study of life experiences, they have already achieved the knowledge and skills targeted by the ULRs or MLOs. In these cases it is not necessary for students to engage in additional learning experiences, but rather to reflect on their prior learning experiences and demonstrate their achievement. Students must register to engage in an independent assessment process to show that they have acquired the knowledge and skills specified by each ULR or MLO.