The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA+) is a vital tool utilized by Cal Poly to comprehensively evaluate and enhance student learning outcomes. As a standardized, external assessment, the CLA+ is employed by numerous universities across the nation to gauge students’ proficiency in crucial skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective writing. At Cal Poly, both incoming first-year students and graduating seniors are invited to participate in this assessment every three years. This strategic implementation allows the university to gain valuable insights into the development of these essential skills throughout a student’s academic journey. By analyzing the results, Cal Poly can effectively track the growth in students’ understanding from their initial enrollment to graduation, and benchmark its educational effectiveness against peer institutions nationwide. Notably, Cal Poly has consistently achieved top rankings in CLA+ performance, underscoring its commitment to academic excellence.
Leveraging CLA+ Results for Continuous Improvement
The data gathered from the CLA+ is meticulously aggregated for institutional analysis, ensuring student privacy by not sharing individual results. Cal Poly strategically integrates these findings with other assessment metrics, both internal and external, to inform and drive initiatives aimed at bolstering student and faculty support systems. This holistic approach to assessment allows for targeted improvements in curriculum design, pedagogical strategies, and student support services, all contributing to a richer and more effective learning environment.
Student Participation: A Valued Contribution
Each assessment cycle, Cal Poly seeks the voluntary participation of 100 students from each designated cohort. To acknowledge and encourage student involvement, incentives and awards are often provided. Participating in the CLA+ offers students a unique opportunity to contribute to the ongoing improvement of their university and gain valuable self-insight into their skill development.
What to Expect During the CLA+ Assessment
The CLA+ assessment at Cal Poly is designed to be accessible and convenient for participating students. Specifically for Spring 2020 (and adaptable to future administrations), the CLA+ was open to all students anticipating graduation in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall 2020, including blended program post-baccalaureate students who began their Cal Poly journey as first-time freshmen. Administered entirely online, the assessment is designed to be completed within a 90-minute timeframe.
Historically, sessions were held in the Kennedy Library computer labs, with refreshments provided. Adapting to changing circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic which necessitated a fully remote administration in Spring 2020, demonstrates Cal Poly’s flexibility and commitment to student participation. Beyond contributing to institutional improvement, participants also receive a Starbucks gift card as a token of appreciation.
Upon completing the assessment, each student creates a personal user profile. This profile serves as a portal to access their individual results, enabling them to compare their performance against both their Cal Poly peers and students at universities across the nation. This valuable comparative data can be a significant asset for students, providing concrete evidence of their critical thinking and communication skills to showcase on their resumé and LinkedIn profiles, setting them apart in a competitive job market.
For deeper insights into the assessment experience, students can consult the comprehensive Student Guide (pdf) and engage with the Practice Assessment (pdf) to familiarize themselves with the format and question types.
Outstanding CLA+ Results: Cal Poly’s National Standing (2019-2020)
Cal Poly’s performance in the CLA+ assessment for the 2019-2020 cycle was exceptional, reaffirming its position as a leading institution in higher education. Senior students at Cal Poly achieved a mean score of 1264, a score classification signifying “accomplished mastery of the skills measured by CLA+.” This remarkable achievement placed Cal Poly seniors in the top 2% of all participating colleges and universities nationwide. Furthermore, Cal Poly’s first-time first-year students also demonstrated outstanding proficiency, earning a mean score of 1182, placing them within the top 5% of participating institutions and indicating “proficient mastery of critical-thinking and written-communication skills.”
This consistent high performance underscores Cal Poly’s dedication to providing a learning environment that fosters the development of essential skills highly valued in today’s world. Detailed information and a comprehensive analysis of Cal Poly’s ranking can be found in the full report available here. The Collegiate Learning Assessment serves as a powerful validation of Cal Poly’s commitment to student success and continuous improvement in higher education.
