Co-Curricular Assurance of Learning
Learning at Bentley doesn’t just take place in a classroom. Students should have a higher education experience that is well-rounded and comprehensive. With that in mind, we assess our co-curricular activities in addition to our standard academic programs. Doing so gives us a more complete picture of our students’ full Bentley learning experience, which would not be possible with curricular AoL alone.
STOP!
You might be thinking that you have heard of extracurricular activities but aren’t familiar with ‘co-curricular.’
Let’s get this out of the way first: co-curricular does NOT equal extracurricular.
So what is co-curricular?
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) defines co-curricular as:
Learning activities, programs, and experiences that reinforce the institution’s mission and values and complement the formal curriculum." (Core Component 4.B)
Further, “the co-curriculum intentionally aligns with and augments and enhances standard curricular goals."
Identifying a co-curricular activity is not always as obvious in comparison to its curricular and extracurricular siblings, especially because some co-curriculum can be a part of academic programs while others are more separate.
Co-curriculum that is more embedded in academic programs can be things like study abroad or service learning.
Experiential social learning spaces (ex. our CIS Sandbox and E-Hub) and learning labs (ex. Bentley’s Trading Room) are examples of co-curriculum that are less directly integrated.
Assessing the co-curricular
Co-curricular and curricular assessment are very similar to each other; the strongest assessment measures share the same basic qualities. However, there are some important differences between the two as well. In particular, “assessment of co-curricular outcomes may seem more challenging because not all co-curricular experiences are structured in a manner similar to academic courses or programs.” (from Katie Busby's "Co-Curricular Outcomes Assessment and Accreditation")
Additionally, while you will use direct and indirect measures in both assessment types, the frequency and use might differ. Below you can see two boxes comparing direct and indirect measures to give you a clearer breakdown of the two. In regard to differences in how measures might be utilized, you will see that indirect measures are used more frequently for co-curricular assessment compared to direct measures. Review below to learn more!
Direct Measures
Demonstrates how student performance/work meets learning outcomes
Assesses actual student work
Can be used for co-curricular assessment but not used as frequently
Indirect Measures
Provides additional evidence, information, and student perspective
Does not always assess actual student work; assesses secondary information
More frequently used for co-curricular assessment
Co-curricular assessment cycle at Bentley
Co-curricular programs are expected to engage in assurance of learning activities once every five years. These efforts will include collecting and analyzing direct and indirect measures of student achievement toward the stated learning goals and objectives.
To support co-curricular assessment and to ensure alignment with curricular assessment, key stakeholders at Bentley convene regularly as part of the University’s assurance of learning steering committee.
One of our accreditors, NECHE, addresses assessment and assurance of learning throughout their Standards for Accreditation. You can see an example on our Institutional Accreditation page. However, they discuss co-curricular assurance of learning directly in a few, specific places:
Standard 2: The institution works systematically and effectively to plan, provide, oversee, evaluate, improve, and assure the quality and integrity of its academic programs and credits and degrees awarded as well as its student services and co-curricular programs.
2.25 As applicable, the institution provides co-curricular programs and opportunities for student participation in campus organizations and governance. (See also 4.2)
4.2 The institution uses a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods, and direct and indirect measures, to assess its mission-appropriate goals for student learning and success and to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of its academic programs, student services, and co-curricular programs in achieving its mission and facilitating student success.