Assessment

Assessment

The University of Louisville has a long-standing general education assessment program. The assessment focuses on competencies of critical thinking, effective (written and oral) communication, quantitative reasoning, and understanding of historical, social, and cultural perspectives, in alignment with the Cardinal Core program's philosophy and guiding principles.

Assessment Process

The Cardinal Core Curriculum Committee (CCCC) determines a schedule for reviewing authentic student work samples from each of the Cardinal Core content areas (Arts & Humanities, Natural Sciences, Oral Communication, Quantitative Reasoning, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Historical Perspective, and Written Communication) at least once within a 3-year cycle. The Cardinal Core Office coordinates the collection of samples with each of the designated academic departments offering Cardinal Core courses in the content areas being assessed. 

Faculty teaching Cardinal Core courses included in assessments are asked to provide one assignment from their course that demonstrates the overarching competencies of the program, along with the student responses to that assignment for students randomly selected for assessment. 

A panel of university faculty (tenured, tenure-track, term, and adjunct) and graduate teaching assistants are recruited either through past involvement in General Education Assessment/Cardinal Core Assessment or by department chair recommendation. All assessors participate in a mandatory assessment training in which the foundations for holistic outcomes assessment is covered and readers actively engage in dissection and practice application of assessment rubrics.

Upcoming Assessments

Fall 2025/Spring 2026 - Arts & Humanities (AH) and Quantitative Reasoning (QR)

Fall 2026/Spring 2027 - Social & Behavioral Sciences (SB)/Historical Perspectives (SBH) and Natural Sciences (S, SL, B)

Fall 2027/Spring 2028 - Written Communication (WC) and Oral Communication (OC)