Graduation Assessment

*Formerly known as the e-Portfolio - name change effective fall 2021*

The graduation assessment serves as the culminating learning outcomes assessment for students preparing to graduate from the School of Information Sciences. The graduation assessment is an opportunity for students to reflect on their cumulative learning experiences in the School. The contents of the graduation assessment focus on professional skills and knowledge developed during students' coursework. After ascertaining that all required materials are present, submitted graduation assessment is evaluated by a faculty committee consisting of a minimum of two full-time faculty members.

Recording of the 2023 graduation assessment information session

Winter 2024 required learning outcome for the reflective essay for MLIS:

#2: Understand how complex interactions between diverse users, societal factors and information environments affect professional situations.

Click here for a complete list of MLIS learning outcomes.

Winter 2024 required learning outcome for the reflective essay for MSIS:

#2: Leverage databases and datasets to uncover and present insights that drive decision making.

Click here for a complete list of MSIS learning outcomes.

If you are looking for information about certificate graduation assessment, please refer to the page at: https://sis.wayne.edu/students/grad-assessment/cert-assessment

The graduation assessment includes all the following items:

A reflective essay
Artifacts or assignments supporting student learning outcome proficiency as discussed in the reflective essay
A professional resume
Completed survey in graduation assessment Canvas site

In the reflective essay, the student discusses how they have developed as an information professional and demonstrates how they have become proficient in two of the degree-specific student learning outcomes. For the two learning outcomes, one is randomly selected by the school, and the other is chosen by the student. The student should use 500-600 words to demonstrate his/her understanding of each of the two learning outcomes, and use two artifacts to support their proficiencies in each.

As a concluding piece of the essay, the student includes their stance or philosophy of the information profession. This philosophy will be supported by using readings of the research, professional literature, personal experiences, and the degree-specific student learning outcomes. The student may address questions like: What is an information professional? What are the characteristics, qualities and knowledge that will be most important to you as an information professional?

An artifact in the context of graduation assessment may refer to any sample work a student has completed in a course since entering the School.

If a student is unable to produce artifacts for the graduation assessment, the student will write a 500- to 750-word essay for each missing artifact. The short essay will address aspects of the class that developed their professional LIS skills and understanding, highlighting the learning outcomes mastered. Writing an essay to replace a lost course artifact for graduation assessment is an activity of last resort. The student may explain why the essay is being provided for the course artifact at the beginning of the short essay.

Students must back up course artifacts to multiple locations during the course of their studies at the school. Students must not rely on the learning management system (e.g., Canvas) as a backup system. It is not the responsibility of the school, its staff or faculty, to retain copies of student work.

Please check each of the following areas for complete information on the preparation, submission and evaluation of the Graduation Assessment.

If you have any questions on the completion of your graduation assessment, you may contact Academic Services Officer Amber Harrison.