Guided Pathways Teaching and Learning Assessment Framework
Publication Date: 2019
Format: Website
The Teaching and Learning Assessment (TLA) Framework, developed by AAC&U, translates the fourth pillar of the Guided Pathways model into a structured, equity-centered process for improving student learning outcomes. Organized into five phases, Conceptualize, Formalize, Implement, Analyze & Revise, and Scale, the framework provides guiding questions, team-based activities, campus spotlights, and key takeaways to support intentional collaboration across academic teams. Designed to help institutions close equity gaps in student learning, the TLA Framework supports both faculty development and institutional alignment by promoting systematic assessment, improved instructional practice, and a stronger connection between pedagogy and student success.
Connections to the Transformation Journey
and How Institutions Transform
Stages of Transformation
- Sharpen the Focus: The TLA Framework helps institutions translate a broad vision for student success into targeted strategies that improve classroom practices and learning outcomes. It provides teams with tools to identify persistent equity gaps in learning and take practical steps to address them through collaborative design and evidence-based pedagogy.
- Act with Purpose: This resource guides faculty and academic teams through structured implementation of equitable teaching and assessment strategies. By supporting instructional redesign and continuous learning, it helps campuses move from planning to practice and scale efforts that advance student success.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Core Institutional Capacities
- Catalytic Leadership: This framework emphasizes the role of academic leaders, including department chairs, faculty leads, and teaching and learning staff, in fostering a culture of instructional excellence and equity. Visionary leadership is essential to guide faculty engagement, resource allocation, and the institutionalization of high-impact teaching practices.
- Strategic Use of Data: The TLA Framework relies on disaggregated student learning data to uncover gaps, guide collaboration, and inform pedagogical decisions aligned with student success.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Continuous Improvement
This resource is most relevant to the following cross-functional roles:
- Mid-Level Leaders: Deans, department chairs, and academic affairs staff can use the framework to lead faculty teams through structured assessment planning, guide equitable instructional redesign, and connect pedagogy to student success strategy.
- Faculty: This resource offers a pathway for faculty to collaboratively reflect on their teaching, use disaggregated data to surface equity gaps, and apply practices that support deeper student learning across diverse classrooms.
- Core Staff: Institutional Research professionals support the effective use of assessment data by helping teams disaggregate, interpret, and act on learning outcomes to drive equity-focused improvements.
This resource connects to the following phase(s) of the PRPAM framework:
- Prepare: The framework helps institutions establish a shared foundation for change by defining goals, engaging cross-functional teams, and aligning assessment practices with equity and student learning priorities.
- Act: The TLA Framework supports implementation through structured, collaborative processes that help faculty redesign instruction, embed learning outcomes, and apply formative assessment techniques to close equity gaps.
- Monitor: Institutions are encouraged to track learning outcomes over time, revisit results by student population, and iterate on teaching and assessment strategies to improve impact and sustain change.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Stages of Transformation
- Sharpen the Focus: The TLA Framework helps institutions translate a broad vision for student success into targeted strategies that improve classroom practices and learning outcomes. It provides teams with tools to identify persistent equity gaps in learning and take practical steps to address them through collaborative design and evidence-based pedagogy.
- Act with Purpose: This resource guides faculty and academic teams through structured implementation of equitable teaching and assessment strategies. By supporting instructional redesign and continuous learning, it helps campuses move from planning to practice and scale efforts that advance student success.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Core Institutional Capacities
- Catalytic Leadership: This framework emphasizes the role of academic leaders, including department chairs, faculty leads, and teaching and learning staff, in fostering a culture of instructional excellence and equity. Visionary leadership is essential to guide faculty engagement, resource allocation, and the institutionalization of high-impact teaching practices.
- Strategic Use of Data: The TLA Framework relies on disaggregated student learning data to uncover gaps, guide collaboration, and inform pedagogical decisions aligned with student success.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Continuous Improvement
This resource is most relevant to the following cross-functional roles:
- Mid-Level Leaders: Deans, department chairs, and academic affairs staff can use the framework to lead faculty teams through structured assessment planning, guide equitable instructional redesign, and connect pedagogy to student success strategy.
- Faculty: This resource offers a pathway for faculty to collaboratively reflect on their teaching, use disaggregated data to surface equity gaps, and apply practices that support deeper student learning across diverse classrooms.
- Core Staff: Institutional Research professionals support the effective use of assessment data by helping teams disaggregate, interpret, and act on learning outcomes to drive equity-focused improvements.
This resource connects to the following phase(s) of the PRPAM framework:
- Prepare: The framework helps institutions establish a shared foundation for change by defining goals, engaging cross-functional teams, and aligning assessment practices with equity and student learning priorities.
- Act: The TLA Framework supports implementation through structured, collaborative processes that help faculty redesign instruction, embed learning outcomes, and apply formative assessment techniques to close equity gaps.
- Monitor: Institutions are encouraged to track learning outcomes over time, revisit results by student population, and iterate on teaching and assessment strategies to improve impact and sustain change.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Recommended Citation: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2019). Teaching and Learning Assessment (TLA) Framework. https://www.aacu.org/initiatives/tla-framework
