Assurance of Learning

Washington and Lee University Accreditation and Institutional Research Academic Program Assessment Assurance of Learning
Accreditation and Institutional Research

Assurance of Learning (AoL) is the name at Washington and Lee for the process of systematically gathering evidence about student learning, examining that evidence together as a faculty, and making targeted improvements to curriculum and teaching. This work is about ensuring students leave your program prepared with the skills and knowledge you intend.

At its best, AoL is a faculty conversation supported by data. It asks: Are students actually learning what we think we’re teaching? And what do we do when the answer is “not quite"?

Standard 8.2.a reads:

The institution identifies expected outcomes, assesses the extent to which it achieves these outcomes, and provides evidence of seeking improvement based on analysis of the results in student learning outcomes for each of its educational programs.

The Triennial Assessment Cycle

Year 1

Articulate Your Plan

Submit a written plan describing your SLOs, at least one direct measure per SLO, performance targets, and supporting instruments.

Year 1: Plan Report Due October 1
(Rolling September–November 1 starting Fall 2028)

Year 2

Collect Evidence

Gather assessment data according to your plan. The report summarizes what has been collected.

Year 2: Data Report Due June 1

Year 3

Analyze and Improve

Bring results to colleagues. Discuss what the evidence reveals, identify where improvements are needed, develop a specific plan for change.

Year 3: Improvement Report Due June 1

Transition Timeline

W&L is phasing programs into the triennial cycle over three years. Programs are assigned to one of three groups. Each program’s first Year 1 report is the assessment plan components of their last annual AoL Report.

Find Your Program’s Group Assignment

Note: Programs with an external accreditor (ACEJMC, ABA, ABET) may have an alternate schedule separate from the triennial cycle.

Group A Group B Group C
Year 1 Plan Submitted Oct 1, 2025 Oct 1, 2026 Oct 1, 2027
Year 2 Data Report Due June 1, 2027 June 1, 2028 June 1, 2029
Year 3 Improvement Report Due June 1, 2028 June 1, 2029 June 1, 2030
Year 1 Plan Submitted Fall 2028 Fall 2029 Fall 2030

Group A note: Programs in Group A submitted their 2024–25 annual report on October 1, 2025. The assessment plan component of that report serves as their Year 1 plan. Group A programs are currently in the data collection phase.

Submitting Your Assessment Plan

Year 1 Plan

Submit your plan using the online form. After logging in with W&L credentials, you will enter your program’s SLOs, at least one direct measure per SLO with a quantified target, and upload supporting instruments (rubrics, etc.). The Assistant Director of Assessment Strategy and the AoL Committee will provide feedback and either approve the plan or request revisions.

Submit Year 1 Plan

Year 2 Data Report

Use the online form to provide a summary of data collected. Your form will prepopulate with measures from your submitted plan.

Year 3 Improvement Report

This report will ask for a narrative of how the results were analyzed and discussed and, most importantly, what specific interventions are planned that affect student learning in the program. If available, department retreat/meeting agendas are encouraged as attachments.

Rolling Submissions Begin Fall 2028

Programs are encouraged to submit their assessment plans as soon as they are finalized so that they can receive feedback sooner.

Submission Date Feedback By
September 1 September 30
October 1 October 31
November 1 (final deadline) November 30

What Makes a Strong Year 1 Plan?

The AoL Committee reviews all plans using a standard rubric. Strong plans demonstrate:

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Each SLO clearly states what skills and knowledge students will demonstrate — not what they will study
  • Competencies are program-level (appropriate for a graduating major, not a single course)
  • SLOs use precise, measurable, active verbs (analyze, synthesize, design, evaluate)
  • SLOs describe outcomes, not learning activities or processes

Guidance on Crafting Learning Outcomes

Measures and Metrics

  • Every SLO has at least one direct measure
  • Each measure is described in sufficient detail for a colleague to understand it
  • Rubrics and instruments are uploaded as supporting documents
  • Measures collect data from program-level work (capstones, terminal courses, junior/senior majors)
  • Each measure includes a quantified performance target

Guidance on Assessment Measures

Independent Work Majors

Independent work majors develop a student-specific assessment plan given their unique nature. For more information, visit the Registrar’s page on independent work majors.