About

The predecessor of the University Council on Learning Outcomes (UCLO) was the Assessment Report Development Committee. This task force of faculty and administrators, appointed by the President of Boston College (2007), was charged with developing a university-wide framework for assessing student learning outcomes in response to a request by the university鈥檚 regional accreditor, the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (CIHE/NEASC). The framework, and progress on its implementation, was subsequently included in Boston College鈥檚 Interim Report (2012) and Institutional Report (2017) to CIHE/NEASC; both iterations were met with approval. With this generalized assessment process in place, in 2018 the Assessment Report Development Committee transitioned to the University Council on Learning Outcomes, reflective of the institution鈥檚 progress in advancing assessment practices campus-wide.

Charge

The charge of the University Council on Learning Outcomes (UCLO) is twofold: to support听Boston College with its assessment-related accreditation obligations and to foster academic听and co-curricular assessment for student learning.

Assessment and Accreditation

The UCLO monitors the development and implementation of assessment plans in the areas听of: the Core curriculum, academic programs, student affairs, and mission and ministry so that听compliance is maintained with regional (i.e., the New England Commission of Higher听Education, NECHE), specialized, and professional program accreditors. This function听involves:

  • Ensuring that campus units have a thoughtfully prepared assessment plan (e.g.,听NECHE鈥檚 E1A form) that documents learning outcomes and periodic 鈥渃losing the loop鈥澨齯pdates;
  • Confirming that learning outcomes are presented for all applicable programs on the听Boston College website;
  • Interpreting NECHE鈥檚 accreditation standards and policy related to assessment (e.g.,听NECHE Standard 8: Educational Effectiveness).

Assessment for Student Learning

The UCLO supports faculty and staff with the development and implementation of听assessment plans to promote continuous improvement and learning. This function involves:

  • Supporting assessment plan (e.g., E1A form) development and implementation by听reviewing plans and providing formative feedback;
  • Recommending institutional assessment procedures and policies that facilitate听assessment activities and encourage the campus鈥 ever-developing culture of听assessment;
  • Facilitating the acquisition of assessment-related resources (e.g., grants, national听assessment experts/consultants, professional development opportunities) to further听assessment capacity building;
  • Preparing an annual institutional update on assessment activities which serves to听document assessment efforts annually and inform the University鈥檚 President, Provost听and Dean of Faculties, Vice President for University Mission and Ministry, and Vice听President for Student Affairs;
  • Foster the exchange of information on all types of assessment: best practices,听innovative approaches, pilot-phase experiments/modes of inquiry.

Committee members are nominated by their area鈥檚 leadership (e.g., dean or vice president) and appointed by the University Council on Learning Outcomes (UCLO) Steering Committee.听 The goal of all appointments is to yield a rotating membership, representative of Boston College鈥檚 academic and co-curricular units.听 Members are committed to contributing to continuous quality improvement work using assessment results.

Generally, membership on the UCLO Steering Committee (and/or an occasional affiliate committee), entails:

  • Supporting units with the development of learning outcomes and an assessment plan (e.g., E1A form);听
  • Ensuring compliance, progress/completion, and integrity of assessment processes;
  • Regular attendance at meetings;
  • Substantive communication ("reporting out") of area assessment activities;
  • Contribution to the annual report which describes, in brief, the academic year's assessment activities in one鈥檚 area and recommendations in support of institutional level assessment planning and initiatives at Boston College.

Membership

Committee members are nominated by their area鈥檚 leadership (e.g., dean or vice president) and appointed by the University Council on Learning Outcomes (UCLO) Steering Committee.听 The goal of all appointments is to yield a rotating membership, representative of Boston College鈥檚 academic and co-curricular units.听 Members are committed to contributing to continuous quality improvement work using assessment results.

Generally, membership on the UCLO Steering Committee (and/or an occasional affiliate committee), entails:

  • Supporting units with the development of learning outcomes and an assessment plan (e.g., E1A form);听
  • Ensuring compliance, progress/completion, and integrity of assessment processes;
  • Regular attendance at meetings;
  • Substantive communication ("reporting out") of area assessment activities;
  • Contribution to the annual report which describes, in brief, the academic year's assessment activities in one鈥檚 area and recommendations in support of institutional level assessment planning and initiatives at Boston College.

UCLO Steering Committee Members, AY23-24

听 听 听 听 Name 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听听听 听 Area 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Term Start 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听听听Term End 听听 听 听 听 听听
听 Biz Bracher听 Morrissey College听 Sept 2021听 听 听听听 May 2024
听 Margaret Cohen听 University Libraries听 听 听听听 Sept 2021听 May 2024
听 Kate Daly听 Mission & Ministry听 Sept 2022
听 May 2025
听 Ali Erol听 Morrissey College听 Sept 2023听 May 2026
听 Jess Greene, co-chair听 Provost鈥檚 Office听 Ongoing听 Ongoing
听 Stacy Grooters听 CTE听 Sept 2023听 May 2026
听 Candace Hetzner听 Morrissey College听 Sept 2023听 May 2026
听 Alica LaPolla
听 Messina College
听 Sept 2023听 May 2026
听 Peter Martin, co-chair听 President鈥檚 Office听 Sept 2019听 Ongoing
听 Tom Mogan听 Morrissey College听 Sept 2022听 May 2025
听 Elizabeth Shlala听 Core Curriculum听 Sept 2021听 May 2024
听 Melinda Stoops听 Student Affairs听 Sept 2023听 May 2026