What is Assessment?

Assessment is a continuous, systematic process of inquiry designed to understand and improve the effectiveness of academic and nonacademic programs, units, and NMSU as a whole. The process follows a purposeful cycle: we ask meaningful questions about our impact, gather evidence to answer them, and use those insights to make intentional improvements. 

• In learning, the question might be whether or not students possess the knowledge we believe they need to succeed, and whether he or she can apply specific knowledge to practice and behave in ways that are aligned with institutional ethics and values. 
• In operations, the question might be whether or not the services we provide are necessary and effectively contribute to the purpose and growth of the organization. We question how policies, practices, and processes impact student learning, either directly, or through the environment that is created surrounding those practices. 

How does assessment take place? 

Assessment at NMSU happens at multiple levels across our campus and in the online environment. Specifically, NMSU identifies different types of assessment for our campus, overseen by the Annual Academic Departmental Assessment Committee (AADA Committee) and the Committee of Assessment of Student Learning for General Education (CASL-GE). By and large, assessment is about being proactive and intentional in what we do to ensure continuous improvement.