1) What is a CLO?

Learning outcomes submitted by a program/department become Core Learning Outcomes or CLOs upon University Assessment Committee (UAC) endorsement.  (Keep in mind that Learning Outcomes are synonymous with Learning Objectives).  The term core indicates the baseline of knowledge and skills that should be taught in every section of a course regardless of the mode of delivery (e.g. traditional 16-week, online or accelerated).   

At least three-fourths of these CLOs are measured by a Core Assessment (CA) that is also identified by each program/department for every course.  Core Assessment allows for important institutional/departmental data collection regarding student learning. A Core Assessment is required in each course but instructors should also incorporate several other assessments into their individual courses.

The specification of CLOs for a particular course is not to be construed as a limitation on the addition of other instructor-added learning outcomes, contingent upon departmental approval (see number two below).  CLOs are locked into the syllabus after endorsement by the UAC and cannot be changed for the duration of that term.

A CLO should be concise, brief, and use an imperative verb that connotes something measurable (observable).   Use a variety of verbs from different levels of Bloom's Taxonomy where appropriate.  Examples of good imperative verbs are:  demonstrate, analyze, express, evaluate, and create.  Verbs to avoid are:  understand, gain, be able to, will, know, and appreciate.  

A CLO requires a course-specific assessment, i.e., homework, exams, or class discussions, whereas a Program Competency has a curricular-specific assessment, i.e., courses, comprehensive exams, capstones, or internships.  A CLO includes only specific course content, while a Program Competency measures the mastery of a set of cumulative or summative skills/knowledge.

2) What is an "Instructor-added Learning Outcome"?

Learning outcomes consist of two mutually exclusive groups:  Core and Instructor-added.

An Instructor-added Learning Outcome is appended to the Core Learning Outcomes by individual instructors and approved by the department/program.  Please keep in mind that every outcome should be measurable.  As a result, Instructor-added outcomes should also have a corresponding assessment of some type.  These outcomes, which instructors post, are not locked into the syllabus for subsequent terms and may be changed without endorsement of the University Assessment Committee.

Please access the UAC link under "News Sections" on the left side of the "University Assessment Brief" for more information and numerous documents pertaining to CLOs, CAs and Program Competencies.