Masters Thesis

Assessing Information Literacy of Undergraduates at a Point Near Graduation: A Pilot Study

Accreditation is an important process for institutes of higher education, related to eligibility for federal financial aid, grants, and other federal dollars. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WSCUC) is the regional accrediting body for California State University, Fresno. WSCUC requires the assessment of five core competencies at the undergraduate level, including information literacy (IL). This study outlines a pilot process for assessing IL at a point near graduation using student artifacts gathered from capstone courses. Conducted over the course of a year, the WSCUC Information Literacy Assessment Committee (WSCUC IL Committee) assessed 82 student artifacts from three courses using the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ Information Literacy VALUE Rubric. The process and rubric was determined to be an effective method for evaluating IL proficiency at a point near graduation. The WSCUC IL Committee also found 84% students demonstrate IL proficiency, and the majority of students demonstrate IL proficiency across all five subcriteria of the IL VALUE Rubric. The relationship between IL proficiency scores and other factors related to IL proficiency assessment are also explored, including IL proficiency and final paper score and IL proficiency and relationship to participation in an IL instruction session. Final recommendations for the process of assessing IL at a point near graduation using capstone artifacts are made, as well as recommendations for connecting this assessment process to IL teaching and learning.

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