Assurance of Learning
The Gustavson School of Business maintains high quality programs through our Assurance of Learning (AoL) process. AoL is a systematic, continuous improvement process to ensure quality at the program-level with the goal of improving student learning.
For more information on our learning goals and process, contact the Chair of the AoL Committee through the Gustavson Dean’s Office at business@uvic.ca.
Why do we do AoL?
Program assessment and AoL tells us how well we are accomplishing our educational aims. AoL is a means of holding ourselves accountable to our stakeholders, and a method of on-going continuous improvement. The most important benefit is that AoL leads to an improvement in student learning.
Our AoL Process
Develop
1) Define competency goals and objectives
We establish competency goals (formerly known as learning goals) and objectives through a collaborative process involving different stakeholders. Competency goals are consistent with the mission of the school.
2) Align competencies to curriculum
We create or revise AoL curriculum matrices to track the linkage between curricula and competencies.
3) Develop a measurement plan and tools
We identify when, where and how competencies and objectives are measured. This includes creating or developing tools such as rubrics, surveys, standalone tests, etc.
Analyze
4) Collect samples and apply measurement tool
An artifact or sample is collected and the measurement tool is applied (e.g. an Executive Summary of a document could be collected and the AoL Writing Rubric applied to assess a competency related to student writing).
5) Analyze data and identity improvements
Groups of faculty members and other stakeholders evaluate data summaries and make recommendations on where improvements could be made.
Improve
6) Implement improvements
Using the assessment information and any additional sources (e.g. employer feedback), programs implement improvements and record their continuous improvement actions.
7) Collect samples and apply measurement tool
Another artifact or sample is collected and the measurement tool is re-applied.
8) Analyze data and evaluate improvements
Groups of faculty members and other stakeholders evaluate data summaries to assess the results of improvements.
9) Loop is closed
At this point, we have “closed-the-loop” and either met not met the performance target of our competency goals. The program decides whether the competency goal will continue to be measured again or if a new competency goal will be addressed.