College-wide assessment findings by topic or issue

Consistent with its “utilization-focused” approach to assessment, the Office of Institutional Research and Evaluation prepares reports that integrate assessment findings from a variety of sources around specific topics or issues.  These thematic reports can help individual faculty members, committees, task forces, departments and programs, and other units of the College use assessment findings to inform and improve their work.

Please note:  The reports on this page are currently accessible only from on-campus or VPN-connected computers.  This is because most of them include older assessment findings that were governed by restrictive inter-institutional confidentiality provisions that limited the sharing of results to internal audiences.  Our more recent assessment projects permit public sharing of aggregate results, and those results are available on our Assessment findings by source of evidence page. Please contact the Office of Institutional Research and Evaluation if you are interested in reviewing any of these reports but are unable to access them.

Reports concerning specific learning outcomes or curriculum areas

Writing proficiencies and experiences at St. Olaf (May 2012)
WRI requirement completion and course availability (March 2011)
Critical thinking (January 2012)
Oral communication (July 2009)
Research proficiency (May 2013)
Research proficiency - supplementary information (May 2013)
Involvement in undergraduate research (August 2011)
Quantitative reasoning (June 2009)
Learning in the fine arts (May 2013)
Learning in the humanities (May 2013)
Learning in the natural sciences and mathematics (May 2013)
Learning in the social sciences (May 2013)
Learning in interdisciplinary programs (May 2013)

Reports supporting current projects or initiatives

Main Street Initiative assessment portfolio - Executive summary (December 2012)
Main Street Initiative assessment portfolio - Complete report (December 2012)
Academic advising at St. Olaf (November 2011)
Strategic Planning Academic Excellence Working Group Report (January 2011)