Program Learning Outcomes Assessment at Boston University provides faculty a means to ask a fundamental question about the programs they design and teach: by completing a given set of courses and other requirements, do students actually acquire, in the end, the particular knowledge, skills, habits of mind, and attitudes faculty intend? If not—or if not fully enough—what pedagogical and curricular reforms can be undertaken to improve student learning? A similar question can be asked of the co-curricular and extra-curricular programs that contribute so significantly to a well-rounded education at BU.

Program Learning Outcomes Assessment at Boston University is overseen by the Council of Deans. It is coordinated and facilitated by Russell Stone, Assistant Provost for Academic Assessment. University Working Committees, comprised of representatives from the schools and colleges, meet regularly with the Assistant Provost for Academic Assessment to share information and best practices, and to coordinate the University’s effort.

 

Russell Stone, Assistant Provost for Academic Assessment

Headshot of Dr. Russell Stone

Russell provides leadership and support for academic units in their ongoing assessment of student learning and consideration of curricular and co-curricular learning opportunities.  His primary responsibility is ensuring that the BU community has the necessary information and guidance to reflect on what and how students learn.

Prior to coming to BU, Russell served as Assistant Vice Provost for Assessment & Accreditation at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he led a number of projects related to student learning and achievement, general education, and community engagement.  He also served as a peer evaluator and Mission Fulfillment Fellow for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Aside from recent publications on assessment and general education, Russell is a medievalist and has published a number of books, articles, and reference works on the medieval reception of Alexander the Great.

 

Roger Taylor, Associate Director of Academic Assessment

Headshot of Dr. Roger Taylor

Dr. Roger Taylor is the Associate Director of Academic Assessment in the Office of the Provost at Boston University. He uses his expertise in academic assessment and analytics in his work with administrators, faculty, and staff to help improve students’ academic success.

In addition to his ongoing work with Boston University’s innovative general education program and Student Advisement, he has assisted faculty members in adding evaluation components to their NIH / NSF grant proposals. Dr. Taylor has collaborated with faculty to conduct research on effectively incorporating generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) into higher education assessment. These projects involved the use of advanced statistical analyses and machine learning techniques.

He earned his doctorate in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and then completed a Department of Education postdoctoral research fellowship at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Taylor was previously an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) at SUNY Oswego, where he conducted educational research and served as the Director of the Learning and Emotion Lab.

Before joining Boston University, Dr. Taylor served as the Senior Academic and Assessment Analyst at Quincy College where he took the lead on projects targeting student retention, academic program creation, and general education assessment.

Aside from his professional endeavors in academic assessment, Roger has a deep interest in examining student motivation and the relationships between learning and emotion. During his leisure time, he might be spotted engaging in activities such as surfing or snowboarding.


Staff Contacts

Russell Stone
Assistant Provost for Academic Assessment
crstone@bu.edu

Roger Taylor
Associate Director of Academic Assessment
rogert@bu.edu