General Education Assessment

Policy 1.17
Approved by:	President
Responsible Officer:	Provost and Senior Vice President for academic affairs
Responsible Office:	Academic Affairs
Originally Issued:	12/29/1994
Last Revision:	08/25/2025
Category:	Academics
Related Policy
SDBOR Policy 2.3.7 Undergraduate General Education Requirements
SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 2.3.9.A General Education Assessment Reporting
SDBOR Academic Affairs Guidelines 2.3.9.A(1) University Annual General Education Assessment Report Template

I. REASON FOR THIS POLICY

The purpose of this policy is to describe the rationale and procedures related to the assessment of South Dakota Board of Regents general education goals and learning outcomes at Dakota State University.

II. DEFINITIONS

1. Assessment. A systematic collection, review, and use of information about educational programs undertaken for the purpose of improving student learning and development. (Source: AAC Guideline 2.3.9.A(2.1) General Education Assessment Reporting)
2. General Education. General Education provides students with a foundational knowledge base and a capacity for lifelong learning. The System General Education (SGR) requirements seek to prepare students with the skills to communicate effectively, problem solve, analyze, locate and gather information, and think critically and logically. (Source: AAC Guideline 2.3.7.B(1) General Education Implementation Guidelines)
3. Learning Outcomes. Measurable statements that articulate at the beginning of a course or program what students should be able to know, do, or value by the end of the learning experience.

III. STATEMENT OF POLICY

Dakota State University complies with the general education requirements set forth by the South Dakota Board of Regents (BOR). Courses approved for general education meet the learning outcomes established by the BOR for their respective goal areas. It is the policy if Dakota State University to assess students’ outcomes on the general education component of the curriculum on an annual basis to determine if the general education goals have been met and to make and implement a plan to improve student learning for any areas of deficit. The goals for the system-wide general education are defined in BOR policy 2.3.7 General Education Requirements.

1. System General Education Goals. Faculty teaching general education courses shall assess student proficiency in six system general education goals:
   1. GOAL #1: Students will write effectively and responsibly and will understand and interpret the written expression of others.
   2. GOAL #2: Students will communicate effectively and responsibly through listening and speaking.
   3. GOAL #3: Students will understand the organization, potential, and variability of the human community through study of the social sciences.
   4. GOAL #4: Students will understand the diversity and complexity of the human experience through study of the arts and humanities.
   5. GOAL #5: Students will understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.
   6. GOAL #6: Students will understand the fundamental principles of the natural sciences and apply scientific methods of inquiry to investigate the natural world.
2. General Education Area Assessment Plans. Faculty in each of the six general education areas shall develop assessment plans to measure student proficiency in the system learning outcomes for their respective disciplines. Each plan shall include, but is not limited to, components pursuant to SDBOR AAC Guideline 2.3.9.A
3. Use of Results. Faculty shall use general education student proficiency results to inform their decision making processes regarding instructional improvements to both continue practices that support successful learning and make instructional adjustments when needed to improve student results.
4. Roles and Responsibilities. The following groups/individuals shall, at a minimum, annually complete the following
   1. General Education Assessment Faculty Leaders
      1. Participate in training for the University’s online assessment platform.
      2. Send system graduation requirement (SGR) proficiency reporting assignments to each faculty member in their respective discipline in the Fall Term and the Spring Term.
   2. Faculty (including adjunct faculty) Teaching General Education Course Sections
      1. Develop and implement an assessment plan for each SGR learning outcome assigned to their respective course section(s).
      2. Report student proficiency for each general education course taught, including, but not limited to, the use of results data at the end of Fall Term and Spring Term.
   3. Analyze general education proficiency results for the relevant SGR learning outcomes with other faculty assigned those outcomes, document the collective plans to improve student achievement of the outcomes where appropriate, and use general education proficiency results to improve student learning and development.
   4. The Academic Assessment Committee
      1. Reviews general education results.
      2. Makes recommendations to the Provost’s Office regarding student proficiency in general education.
   5. Communicates general education results to the units represented on the committee.
   6. The General Education Coordinator
      1. Provides training to the general education faculty assessment leaders assigned to each area.
      2. Reports general education assessment findings to the SDBOR in compliance with Academic Affairs (AAC) Guideline 2.3.9.A General Education Assessment Reporting on the following required schedule:
         1. Year 1: General Education Goals 1 (English/Written Communication) and 5 (Math)
         2. Year 2: General Education Goals 3 (Social Sciences) and 6 (Natural Science)
         3. Year 3: General Education Goals 2 (Listening & Speaking) and 4 (Arts & Humanities)
   7. Communicates completion status of general education proficiency results to the Provost’s Office and to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Exclusions

This policy does not apply to graduate degree programs.

Exceptions

NA

IV. PROCEDURES (MAJOR)

1. Online assessment platform training for General Education Faculty Leaders shall occur annually in both the Fall Term and the Spring Term.
2. Every faculty teaching general education course sections during Fall Term and Spring Term shall report student proficiency results for each general education course section taught at the end of Fall Term before break and the end of Spring Term before Summer Term begins.
3. The Academic Assessment Committee Chair shall submit general education assessment recommendations to the Provost’s Office by July 1 for the previous academic year.
4. The General Education Coordinator shall submit the annual SDBOR General Education Report (General Education Assessment Form 2.3.9(A) for the previous academic year by October of the following academic year to the System Vice President for Academic Policy & Planning.

V. RELATED DOCUMENTS, FORMS AND TOOLS

Assessment  of Effectiveness Process Model

VI. POLICY HISTORY

Adopted: 12/29/1994

Revised: 10/14/08

Revised: 05/05/2023

Revised: 8/25/2025