Otis’ College Assessment Plan (CAP)
Otis’ College Assessment Plan relies on two primary modes of assessment. The CAP is overseen by the Assessment Committee of the Academic Assembly.
Annual Assessment
Annual program assessment is the yearly review of student learning and program effectiveness. All programs assess the same Institutional Learning Outcome (ILO) and related Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs), supporting shared inquiry and cross-disciplinary evaluation.
Rooted in Otis’s critique-based pedagogy, assessment is a collaborative, reflective process. Faculty review student work to identify learning, strengths, and areas for growth, using the process to guide improvement. Like classroom critique, assessment is dialogic, inclusive, and formative.
Program Review
Conducted every seven years, our programs undergo rigorous, systematic reflection as they develop a comprehensive self-study. The self-study requires a synthesis of student learning outcomes derived from annual assessment findings, student and faculty feedback, and analysis of market trends and required competencies for students’ success post-graduation.
The on-site portion of the review provides an opportunity to engage industry professionals and colleagues from peer institutions whose expertise make them strong reviewers of the program’s curriculum, learning outcomes, and operational effectiveness. The review process is designed to evaluate how well programs prepare graduates for their unique professional and academic ambitions. Program Review generates actionable recommendations that inform academic planning within departments and across the College.
Otis College of Art and Design instills its Mission, Vision, and Values across all levels of the college. This integrated framework reinforces our guiding principles, ensuring they are woven intuitively into all learnings across campus. Through ongoing assessment, we identify how these values are demonstrated in student learning and seek opportunities to further strengthen these principles throughout the student experience.
Adapted from Northwest Indian College
This framework is designed to ensure that Otis College's Mission, Values, and ILOs are delivered upon at all levels of learning and engagement. From large-scale events like Internship Recruitment Day and O-Launch to daily studio courses, the Otis Experience is rooted in its mission of educating a diverse community of students to become highly skilled, well-informed, and responsible professionals -- empowering them to shape the world.
More information regarding our ILOs can be found on the Student Outcomes page and our Mission and Vision page.
Mission
The Assessment Committee has the overall responsibility for developing the College assessment plan and is charged with planning, developing, and disseminating procedures for the assessment of institutional effectiveness, and assuring continuous improvement in educational programs and related services.
Working Structure and Responsibilities
The Assessment Committee works with programs to develop and maintain a framework for ongoing assessment and to promote a “culture of evidence.” The Assessment Committee supports the institution in the process of collecting, organizing, evaluating, and validating existing and new evidence-gathering and assessment methodologies in programs at Otis. The Committee supports a flexible assessment framework that allows for a diversity of evidence across programs in support of the improvement of student learning. The Committee oversees the development of vehicles to archive student learning outcomes at both a program and college-wide level; coordinates and reviews the criteria for Program Review; reviews outcomes from College-wide annual assessment and Program Review; and supports the WASC Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) in the preparing and writing of accreditation assessments.
Membership
The membership of the Assessment Committee reflects the institution-wide scope of assessment at Otis and consists of representatives from all programs.
Leadership
The Provost’s Office provides the leadership for the Assessment Committee under the directions of Joanne Mitchell, Chair of Assessment Committee.
Otis College of Art and Design | 9045 Lincoln Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045 | MyOtis
