Enhancing and Evaluating Student Learning by Using National Certification Examinations.

As efforts continue to focus on and develop student learning outcomes to assess the effectiveness of our undergraduate programs, we are evaluating the usefulness of national certification examinations. Last year we initiated the use of the Fundamentals of Soil Science certification exam as an impetus for student review and to implement as an assessment tool for our Environmental, Soil, and Water Science degree. This year we implemented a review course to prepare students to take the General Environmental Science exam administered through the Institute of Professional Environmental Practice. Students participated in a 1-credit hour course that met once a week for 8 weeks for 3 hours per session. Each week students were assigned problems out of a study guide that they were responsible for understanding and explaining, and therefore led class discussion and review of material. The course attracted 12 undergraduates from three majors and 2 recent graduates. Interestingly, despite the breadth of material (19 areas compared to 6 soil science content areas) and lack of curricular coverage of some content (e.g. air emissions and quality and waste minimization), student feedback was very positive overall and similar to that given previously for the Soil Science exam preparation. The course and exam provided a valuable opportunity for students to simultaneously evaluate and improve learning by synthesizing information from several courses and other resources. In contrast to the Soil Science exam pass rate in 2008 of 44%, the EPI exam pass rate was 64%.  While we continue to evaluate the use of certification exams to assess our curriculum, the exams enhance student commitment and level of professionalism because they are offered through an evaluation body external to the university, giving credence to students’ level of knowledge, and certification awards students with a credential to enhance transition into graduate school or career employment.