UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State's Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research (OPAIR) has released a new online resource that highlights recent external evaluations of the University’s learning assessment practices and the progress made in response to those reviews.
The newly published Learning Assessment External Reviews and Progress webpage provides a comprehensive overview of two major sources of external feedback:
- Findings from an independent external review team — Monica Stitt-Bergh, Megan Good and Laura Lambert — nationally-respected assessment experts who conducted a multi-month review of Penn State’s learning assessment through a self-study process and student, faculty, staff, and administrator interviews.
- Feedback from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) focused on strengthening meaningful learning assessment consistent with accreditation Standards III (General Education) and V (Learning Assessment).
In addition to summarizing these evaluations, the webpage describes how OPAIR and the University Committee on the Assessment of Learning (UCAL) have engaged in a coordinated response since receiving this feedback. Their work included:
- Reviewing and synthesizing the full set of recommendations.
- Prioritizing areas where action would provide the greatest impact.
- Developing and launching a structured action plan to advance assessment infrastructures and practices across the University.
This work is summarized in the LOA Progress Report 2025, which documents the specific steps taken to date and outlines continuing work aligned with the external recommendations.
This resource reflects OPAIR’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in learning assessment. Students, faculty, staff and assessment partners are encouraged to explore the webpage and use the information to support local and institutional assessment efforts.