Assessment is a process of (1) identifying what students should learn, (2) helping them learn that knowledge or skill, (3) determining how well they have learned, and (4) modifying the educational experience to help students learn better, if necessary. 
 
SCHEV's Policy on Student Learning Assessment and Quality in Undergraduate Education requires that all public institutions assess at least six core competencies among their undergraduates. Four of those competencies are determined by SCHEV. The others are selected by each institution based on their mission and educational priorities. The four competencies required by SCHEV are:

• Civic engagement
• Critical thinking
• Quantitative reasoning
• Written communication

Some of the other competencies selected by institutions include oral communication, information literacy, professional readiness, and scientific literacy.

Institutions are responsible for developing their own strategies for teaching and assessing the core competencies. Results are publicly available on each institution's website.

Spotlights
SCHEV is in the process of building a library of short videos showcasing how different institutions teach and assess these core competencies. Each "spotlight" video explains how one of the competencies is taught and assessed at a particular institution. 

Civic Engagement

• Blue Ridge Community College
• George Mason University
• Germanna Community College
• James Madison University
• New River Community College
• Piedmont Virginia Community College
• Radford University

Critical Thinking

• Reynolds Community College
• Richard Bland College
• Southwest Virginia Community College
• UVA Wise

Quantitative Reasoning

• Longwood University
• Mountain Empire Community College
• Virginia Military Institute

Written Communication

• Central Virginia Community College
• Norfolk State University
• UVA School of Nursing