Assessment Plan
Course Assessment Plans
All doctrinal courses will follow the law school assessment policy for multiple graded formative assessments. As courses are graded under the applicable grading curves, students can earn points toward a total score for the term in each class.
Faculty will provide meaningful and individualized feedback to students on assessments completed during the semester. This could include an individualized grading rubric and model answer, individualized written feedback on exam answers or other student work product, or meetings with individual students.
Required Assessment Plan – Doctrinal Courses
1L Doctrinal Course Assessments
Week 5 – Closed Book, 15 Multiple Choice or Short Bar Essay Question Exam
(Timed – 30 minutes, 10% of final score/Bar Essay, 15% of final score/MC)
- Students with a score in the bottom 1/6th of the class on this assessment are required to meet one-on-one with the faculty within 10 days.
Week 10 – Closed Book, 15 Multiple Choice or Short Bar Essay Question Exam
(Timed – 30 minutes, 10% of final score/Bar Essay, 15% of final score/MC)
- Students with a score in the bottom 1/6th of the class on this assessment are required to meet one-on-one with the faculty within 10 days.
Final Exam - Three-part exam with a combination of closed and open book testing. (Timed – 180 minutes, 75% of final score)
- Closed Book, Short Bar Essay (Timed – 30 minutes)
- Closed Book, 30 Multiple Choice Section (Timed – 60 minutes)
- Faculty selection of format and security. Could include selection of Closed, Provided Resources, Open Book, or Designated Resources (Timed – 90 minutes)
2L Doctrinal Course Assessments
Mid-Term Exam - Two-part, closed book exam offered in week 7 or 8. (Timed 60 minutes - 25% of final score)
- Closed Book, Short Bar Essay (Timed – 30 minutes)
- Closed Book, 15 Multiple Choice Section (Timed – 60 minutes)
Final Exam - Three-part exam with a combination of closed and open book testing. (Timed 180 minutes - 75% of final score)
- Closed Book, Short Bar Essay (Timed – 30 minutes)
- Closed Book, 30 Multiple Choice Section (Timed – 60 minutes)
- Faculty selection of format and security. Could include selection of Closed, Provided Resources, Open Book, or Designated Resources (Timed – 90 minutes)
*Elective Doctrinal Courses may choose to do a midterm instead of Week 5 and Week 10 assessments.
Required Assessment Plan – Writing Courses
All writing courses should include the submission and review of multiple drafts.
- Required: faculty reviewed and ungraded detailed outline of the paper
- Required: faculty reviewed and graded draft paper
- Required: faculty reviewed and graded final paper
- Optional: presentation of the paper to the class in seminar courses
Individualized written and/or oral feedback is required by the faculty for each step submitted in the writing process.
Individual meetings with students must be scheduled during the semester to account for the week 15 direct instructional minutes.
Required Assessment Plan – Skills Courses
For simulation and experiential courses, faculty are required to mandate that students complete at least three written products and/or oral exercises throughout the semester; this includes the final assessment exercise. Faculty are required to review and grade the written products and/or oral exercises, and faculty should provide individualized written or oral feedback for each assessment.
Individual meetings with students must be scheduled during the semester to account for the week 15 direct instructional minutes.