Beyond Grades: Using the HEIghten Outcomes Assessment Suite to Measure Transferable Skills

The Problem with Traditional Metrics

Grades often reflect effort and course-specific knowledge, but they don’t always capture transferable skills. Skills like problem-solving, information literacy, and intercultural understanding are harder to measure without a focused tool.

A Broader View of Student Learning

The HEIghten Outcomes Assessment Suite addresses this gap. It evaluates student ability across a range of general education domains, providing a more holistic picture of learning that is consistent across departments and courses.

Supporting Student Mobility

As students transfer between institutions or seek jobs, they need ways to demonstrate that their general education skills are solid. HEIghten provides a consistent, skill-based measure that can support transcripts, advising, and credentialing conversations.

Skill Domains with Long-Term Value

HEIghten includes modules in critical thinking, quantitative literacy, written communication, and more. These areas are tied to long-term student success and are often cited by employers as essential for workplace readiness.

Reports that Go Beyond Averages

Institutions using HEIghten receive detailed reports that break down performance by sub-skill, module, and demographic group. This allows for more targeted curriculum changes and supports equity reviews across academic programs.

Meaningful Recognition for Students

Students who demonstrate proficiency can earn digital badges in each skill domain. These credentials provide verified evidence of student achievement that can be added to résumés, LinkedIn profiles, and digital portfolios.

Bridging Academic and Career Language

By focusing on skill mastery rather than course content, HEIghten creates a shared language between academics and employers. It helps institutions demonstrate value and helps students articulate what they know and can do.

Meeting Institutional Goals

From program review to reaccreditation, the data provided by HEIghten supports institutional planning and storytelling. It allows campuses to track progress, highlight strengths, and address learning gaps.

A Framework for the Future

The HEIghten Outcomes Assessment Suite positions institutions to evolve their assessment practices. It connects general education outcomes with skills that matter in the real world, creating a more coherent and useful approach to student success.