CMU finally has the results from the Re-affirmation study conducted by the Higher Learning Commission. This comes at the end of a two-year-long process which began with a self-study completed by university faculty members and culminated in a visit by representatives from the HLC last November.

The study examined the university based on five criteria, which coincide with the school mission: (1) integrity, (2) teaching and learning quality, (3) resource and support, (4) teaching and learning evaluations and improvement, and (5) resources, planning, and institutional effectiveness.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the school for the reaffirmation of accreditation, which determines the eligibility of CMU students for federal financial aid.

“The self study was a beneficial exercise for us,” President Tim Foster said.

The HLC said CMU could use some improvement in the area of assessment. Specifically, they want CMU to look into improving the way in which student learning is assessed, something they have actually been working on off and on for a while now.

The current method of improvement is based on student learning outcomes, which are assessed based on four essential elements. Those elements are applied learning, communication fluency, quantitative fluency and critical thinking.

Bette Schans, Director of Assessment of Student Learning, says the assessment committee has become very important and “their roles have been beefed up” in this process of development and review.

The development of learning outcomes is really a tiered process, beginning with the institution’s mission and channeling down through the ranks to generate learning outcomes for every individual class. Each program has been given the freedom to decide what is important to their field and then create learning outcomes based on that decision that still fall into the line with university’s overarching desired outcomes.

The development of those outcomes is only the beginning, as the university will continue to collect information, discuss data and conduct program review cycles in order to continue to improve and grow.

“It makes us be introspective, [which] makes us better,” Foster said.

armcbroo@mavs.coloradomesa.edu