The first step in the assessment process is setting your goals. In order to do so, you must have a mission statement.
A program's mission statement should outline the high level aims for the program and should relate back to the School's and University’s mission statement.
Tulane's purpose is to create, communicate and conserve knowledge in order to enrich the capacity of individuals, organizations and communities to think, to learn and to act and lead with integrity and wisdom. Tulane pursues this mission by cultivating an environment that focuses on learning and the generation of new knowledge; by expecting and rewarding teaching and research of extraordinarily high quality and impact; and by fostering community-building initiatives as well as scientific, cultural and social understanding that integrate with and strengthen learning and research. This mission is pursued in the context of the unique qualities of our location in New Orleans and our continual aspiration to be a truly distinctive international university.
The program's school may have it’s own mission statement (for example Newcomb-Tulane) that should be referred to as well.
The mission statement provides the foundation for the assessment and continuous improvement of the program. The Student Learning Outcomes and targets should correspond to the mission statement.
Once the mission statement has been completed, it is time to write the Student Learning Outcomes.
