Annual Academic Departmental Assessment of Student Learning (AADA)

What is Annual Academic Departmental Assessment? 

Academic departmental assessment focuses on improving student learning within academic programs.

Each year, the process should involve:

  • Direct measurement of student proficiency in one or more program-level learning outcomes
  • Broad engagement of program faculty in analysis and discussion of assessment findings
  • Planning and implementing change in response findings and analysis
  • Reassessment of learning following changes made in prior years’ assessments

Annual reports on academic program assessment of student learning provide evidence to the college, the institution, external accreditors, and our multiple and varied constituents that faculty and administrators are invested in providing optimal learning experiences for our students. Documentation about how assessment practices and reflection on student learning guide curricular, instructional and administrative decision-making demonstrates intentionality and accountability to all audiences. All NMSU departments are expected to be engaged in ongoing outcomes assessment for the purposes of improved student learning.

Who should Report?

All academic departments are required to prepare and submit annual AADA reports. Departments with both graduate and undergraduate programs are required to submit independent reports to account for the assessment of learning at the graduate level and at the undergraduate level. 

The assessment should evaluate the learning that took place in the academic year prior to the year of submission. For example, assessments due in Fall of 2021 will evaluate the learning done in the 2020-21 academic year. 

Internal college deadlines may be set by the dean of each college. Due dates to the Office of the Assessment can be found on the Assessment Sharepoint.  The following is a recommended schedule: 

Annual Academic Departmental Assessment (AADA) timeline sample