College-wide assessment by source of evidence
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA)
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) provides direct evidence of the impact of college on students' ability to think critically, interpret and apply data appropriately, and write effectively. CLA results have been used at St. Olaf to review of the College's general education requirements, to secure grant funding for improving curriculum and pedagogy, to inform the development of the College's 2011 strategic plan, and to assist in the development and evaluation of the College's Quality Improvement initiative for HLC re-accreditation in 2012-2013.
CLA instrument
The CLA was developed by the Council for Aid to Education (CAE), a nonprofit organization focused on improving quality and access in higher education. Students complete either a Performance Task, in which they use evidence from a library of hypothetical documents to develop a solution to a problem scenario, or an Analytic Writing Task, in which they are asked both to make an argument and to critique an argument in response to a variety of writing prompts.National CLA website
The Collegiate Learning Assessment is part of a larger effort by the CAE to enhance college teaching and learning, not only through assessment but also through faculty development and inter-institutional collaboration. As of Spring 2011, over 500 institutions and 250,000 students have participated in the CLA.CLA results and reports
Students’ CLA essays are scored by the CAE using criteria similar to those used by faculty in evaluating student writing assignments. The results show how St. Olaf students’ proficiencies in critical thinking, interpretation of evidence, and writing improve during college. They also show how the proficiencies of St. Olaf students compare to those of their peers at other institutions.
