Social Work Today E-Zine

How well young people learn and develop during their college years may be due more to the normal process of maturing rather than the college experience itself, according to a new student assessment tool developed by researchers at Indiana State University.

The University Learning Outcomes Assessment is an indicator of student growth, learning, and development, says Mark Frederick, assistant to the vice president of student affairs for research and assessment. The survey examines seven areas of a student’s life—critical thinking, self-awareness, communication, diversity, citizenship, membership and leadership, and relationships.

“We looked for areas of study that could be shared across campus—areas that both student affairs and the academic community could get behind,” says Will Barratt, an associate professor of educational administration.

Findings include the following:

• Students belonging to two or three formally organized organizations or activities score higher on citizenship, membership and leadership, and relationships than those belonging to more or fewer organizations. Further, students holding two leadership positions score higher in citizenship, membership and leadership than those holding fewer or more positions.

• Student ethnicity produces different score profiles for critical thinking, self awareness, communication, and membership and leadership. This result, according to researchers, could reflect subtle cultural differences in how students' behaviors indicate holistic growth, learning, and development or the degree to which learning experiences are available and accessible to different ethnic groups.

• Scores in all areas correlate more with the educational level of the mother than the father. However, socioeconomic status, as measured by receiving a Pell Grant, does not appear to be a factor impacting scores in any of the areas surveyed.

• There are substantial differences between majors in critical thinking, communication, and citizenship with students in humanities, pre-medicine/dentistry, and social sciences scoring higher than students majoring in general studies, pre-law, and recreation/sports/leisure. Undeclared majors score the lowest.

The ultimate goal of the survey is to encourage colleges and universities to embrace a holistic approach to the student experience—shared learning outcomes of the classroom and student activities.

— Source: Indiana State University