Program Assessment
At the Manning School of Business, program assessment is a systematic and continuous process focused on evaluating and improving student learning. The primary objective of this process is to ensure the quality, relevance, and continuous enhancement of both undergraduate and graduate programs. Through the engagement of faculty, students, and external stakeholders, the School fosters a culture of continuous improvement that supports student success and program excellence.
Our assessment process establishes clear expectations for student learning by identifying high standards for learning achievement and systematically collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting evidence of student performance. These results are used to inform decisions about curricular and pedagogical improvements.
Assurance of Learning Model
The Manning School of Business has developed a comprehensive Assurance of Learning (AOL) model to support the assessment and continuous improvement of its academic programs. This model is built on collaboration among multiple committees and faculty groups with responsibility for reviewing learning goals, assessment practices, and resulting improvement actions.
Representatives from each program area, together with the Associate Deans, serve on the College Assessment Committee. This committee regularly reviews program competency goals, curriculum maps, and assessment schedules, while also incorporating feedback from academic departments and program-level committees, such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) Council. At the undergraduate level, the committee coordinates with the UMass Lowell Essential Learning Outcomes Committee to align assessment activities and communicate relevant institutional assessment trends to the college.
As part of the Assurance of Learning process, the College Assessment Committee oversees the collection of assessment data and conducts the initial analysis of student learning outcome results. Findings are then shared with faculty, particularly within the academic departments, to support the identification of appropriate curricular improvements, direct interventions, and implementation strategies.
Proposed curricular changes are reviewed through the appropriate shared governance channels, including the Manning Undergraduate Program Committee or the Graduate Program Committee, depending on the nature of the proposed revisions. When required, these changes are subsequently reviewed by university-level committees and the Faculty Senate for final approval.
Following the implementation of approved changes, assessment data are collected again to evaluate the effectiveness of those actions and to close the loop on each program competency goal. This ongoing cycle of assessment, review, action, and reassessment ensures that the Manning School of Business maintains an evidence-based process for continuous improvement.