Using and Citing VALUE Resources
AAC&U provides guidance on referring to, citing, and reproducing VALUE rubrics, VALUE ADD Tools, and related materials in scholarly and institutional contexts.
VALUE Rubrics
Defining What Matters in Student Learning
VALUE rubrics are faculty-developed frameworks that clarify expectations for essential learning outcomes and enable the evaluation of authentic student work.
Developed through national collaboration among higher education faculty and experts, VALUE rubrics make it possible to assess complex learning — such as critical thinking, communication, ethical reasoning, and problem solving — using students’ real assignments rather than standardized tests.
An open educational resource, VALUE rubrics are freely available for educators to adapt and use in courses, programs, and institutional assessment efforts.
How VALUE Rubrics Strengthen Assessment
Assessing meaningful learning in higher education requires approaches that reflect the complexity of what students actually do in their coursework.
VALUE rubrics help institutions and faculty:
- Clarify expectations for student learning across disciplines and programs
- Evaluate authentic student work such as research papers, projects, presentations, and portfolios
- Use shared criteria that support meaningful faculty dialogue about student performance
- Generate credible evidence of learning outcomes that institutions can use for improvement and accountability
By focusing on real student work and faculty-defined expectations, VALUE rubrics strengthen both teaching and assessment.
Global Use of VALUE Rubrics
860,000+
VALUE rubric downloads
3,000+
Colleges and universities using VALUE for assessment
160+
Countries with educators using VALUE rubrics
Explore the 16 VALUE Rubrics
VALUE rubrics are the most widely used frameworks for authentic assessment in higher education. Faculty and institutions use them to guide assignment design, evaluate student work, and deepen understanding of student learning.
Each rubric articulates shared expectations for undergraduate learning across disciplines and provides a framework for evaluating student performance at multiple levels of achievement.
Select an outcome below to preview and download the corresponding rubric and explore how it can support authentic assessment in your courses or programs.
Intellectual and Analytical Skills
Communication Skills
Integrative and Applied Learning
Civic and Intercultural Learning
Personal and Collaborative Learning
Download the Complete Set
Download the full collection of VALUE rubrics to support course design, program assessment, and institutional learning initiatives.
How Educators Use VALUE Rubrics
VALUE rubrics are designed to support both classroom practice and institutional assessment.
Faculty and institutions commonly use them to:
- Design assignments aligned with essential learning outcomes
- Evaluate student work using shared performance criteria
- Engage faculty in collaborative discussions about student learning
- Use evidence of student performance to improve teaching, curricula, and programs
VALUE rubrics can be used within individual courses, across programs, or as part of institution-wide assessment initiatives.
More VALUE Rubric Resources
Global Adoption Map
Explore the global reach of VALUE rubrics. The map highlights institutions and educators worldwide who have downloaded and engaged with these assessment frameworks.
Japanese Translations
VALUE rubrics are used by educators around the world. As the Japanese version of all 16 demonstrates, the rubrics are adaptable across languages and educational systems.
Part of the VALUE System
VALUE rubrics are part of AAC&U’s Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education (VALUE) system for authentic assessment. Institutions use them alongside additional resources that support assignment design, faculty development, and collaborative scoring of student work.
Explore other parts of the VALUE system:
Ready to Learn More About Using VALUE Rubrics?
AAC&U works with faculty leaders, assessment offices, and institutions to support effective use of VALUE rubrics and authentic assessment practices.