University College
Assessment
University College assesses the effectiveness of its programs on an ongoing basis. It does so through surveys, tests, and institutional research on student success. Some of these assessments are discussed below.
What exam do I take?
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If you are |
you MUST take |
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an Education major |
Praxis I |
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invited to retake the CLA |
CLA |
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any other student with 40-60 earned hours who began at FSU as a first-time freshman |
Rising Junior (CBASE) |
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**Education majors who also took the CLA as freshmen are required to take Praxis I and strongly encouraged to take the CLA as well. | |
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Still not sure? Contact | |
Rising Junior Exam
All students who started FSU as first-time freshmen must take some form of assessment at the end of their sophomore year. Education majors will take the Praxis I. Students who first took the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) as incoming freshmen may be asked to retake it. Other students will take the College Basic Academic Subject Examination [CBASE], usually referred to at FSU as the Rising Junior Exam. Transfer students are exempt.
- For more information on the Rising Junior Exam, click here.
Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA)
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA), developed by the Council for Aid to Education with the Rand Corporation, assesses student learning in writing, critical thinking, and analytical reasoning. It is different from most standardized instruments in that it is not multiple-choice. Students are given tasks to complete, such as evaluating a potential product for a company and preparing a memo justifying a decision whether or not to proceed with development. Students must read and analyze documents provided in the assessment and construct an argument based on the evidence provided. Students are also asked to respond to reading prompts critically, either to make an argument or to critique an argument. Responses are in essay format.
FSU is one of a limited number of institutions nationwide participating in a longitudinal study to share CLA results and establish a baseline for student learning outcomes. The CLA attempts to measure change over time in student learning. For this reason, it is given at the beginning and end of a student's undergraduate career. FSU first tested a sample of incoming freshmen in Fall 2005 and a sample of graduating seniors in Spring 2007.
For more information about the CLA, visit the website at http://www.cae.org/content/pro_collegiate.htm. Refer student questions to Zelphia Hinnant-Jones, Coordinator for the Second-Year Initiative (672-1639; zhinnant@uncfsu.edu).