External Assessment - Academic Programs and Planning - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
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Academic Assessment : External Assessment
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External Assessment
To better understand how Cal Poly students learn, we utilize external, national assessments as a source of information. By including external assessments as part of our overall plan, we can see how our students are comparing with university students across the country and deepen our understanding of our students' achievements and identify areas of improvement.
Surveys of Engagement
Every three years, Cal Poly participates in a national series of surveys that provide indirect measures 1 of student and faculty engagement. These three surveys are as follows:
Audience
Survey Launch
Beginning College Survey of Student Engagement (BCSSE)
* First-time first-year students
* New transfer students
* Older/returning students
COMPLETED IN FALL TERM 2024
(9/17/2024 - 10/4/2024)
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
* First-year students (the same students who took the BCSSE the prior summer)
* Seniors
COMPLETED IN SPRING TERM 2025 (2/25/25 - 5/12/25)
Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE)
* Instructional Faculty
COMPLETED IN SPRING TERM 2025
(3/14/2025 -
5/5/2025)
Cal Poly compares these results with direct measures 2 .
¹ An "indirect measure" in this case asks students to self-report on learning and experiences.
² A "direct measure" is one that requires students to demonstrate a certain level of proficiency for a skill or particular learning outcome.
Last updated: 7/18/2025
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