University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Library and Information Science Program

ePortfolio

ePortfolio Guidelines for the UHM LIS Program
(Updated January 2026)

Download ePortfolio Guidelines (Updated January 2026)
Download ePortfolio Fact Sheet (Requirements at a Glance, updated July 2021)
Download Guiding Questions for ePortfolio Essays (Updated June 2021)
Download Extramural Initiative Artifact Guidelines & Form (Updated July 2021)

View ePortfolio Overview Video (Updated July 2021)

All non-thesis (Plan B) students must create and present an ePortfolio to demonstrate understanding and application of the six program Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs). You will compile a group of artifacts from course assignments (including practica and internships) and professional experiences, and compose corresponding SLO reflective essays. Thesis (Plan A) students are also advised to compile and upload the six artifacts in the event they make midpoint decisions to switch to Plan B.

You begin working on the ePortfolio in the first semester during the initial uncredited part of LIS 691 Masters Seminar, and continue to develop it throughout the program. You will complete it, present it, and receive an evaluation for it in the second part of LIS 691 during your last semester.

All artifacts must be complete before you begin your final semester.

The guidelines include the following major components:

Required Content

Introduction [Approximately 500 words]

Set the tone of your ePortfolio by introducing your professional goals and aspirations. Provide context for your artifacts and set the tone of your approach to the ePortfolio. Paint your personal story.

Resume

Compose a brief, organized account of your professional objectives, education, related work experiences and qualifications. You may redact any information that you deem private and confidential (e.g., home address).

Artifacts

For each of the six SLOs, select one or two artifacts. An artifact could be a paper, an audio/video file, an image, digital product (e.g., website, digital exhibit, or LibGuide), or group project (in which case, you must specify your individual contribution). You may provide evidence from any course or LIS experience (i.e., practicum, internship, extramural project) to demonstrate mastery of any SLO. The artifact may be the culminating assignment or a string of shorter assignments in a course. You must work closely with your faculty advisor to ensure that the artifacts you select are appropriate for your ePortfolio.

Each LIS course has a primary SLO, which is identified in the course syllabus, as well as assignments corresponding to this primary SLO (e.g. LIS 601 is SLO1 Services). However you may identify and justify using those assignments for another SLO. Discuss your plans with the respective course instructor and your faculty advisor.

The same artifact must not be used for more than one SLO. 

Do not alter an artifact after completing a course (e.g. to correct typos). 

Required format for an artifact header: 1) SLO number and name, 2) Course number, title, instructor and semester, 3) Artifact name, 4) Link to the assignment description, and 5) Link to the artifact.  For example:

SLO1 Services: Design, provide, and assess information services
Course: LIS 601 – Introduction to Reference and Information Services (Stephanie Robertson, Spring 2026)
Artifact: Reference Question Set #2
Assignment Description: [provide a link to the assignment, either in the course syllabus or as a separate document] 
Link(s): to the artifact

Reflective Essays [Approximately 1000 words each]
Guiding Questions for ePortfolio Essays

Write a critical, reflective essay based on your chosen artifact(s) to demonstrate mastery of each SLO, for a total of six essays. These are the most important elements in your ePortfolio, as they are the only parts evaluated for Pass/Revise by faculty committees. Refer to the Guiding Questions for ePortfolio Essays for more information on what to include in your essays.

Conclusion [Approximately 500 words]

Discuss your steps towards achieving your aspirations and future goals as a soon-to-be information professional. Explain how you plan to apply what you have learned to a specific information environment, problem, or community of interest. 

Statement Regarding Students’ Intellectual Property Rights and Privacy

You are the sole owner of the intellectual property of your ePortfolio. You will be required to make a working draft of your ePortfolio accessible to your faculty advisor throughout your coursework. You must protect confidential information in your reflective essays and artifacts by either: 1) limiting access in UH Google Drive to LIS faculty, 2) requiring a password and/or 3) redacting the information. At a minimum, confidential information includes other students’ names and photos. Depending on the nature of the artifact, it might include names of employers, supervisors, or institutions. Consult with your course instructor or faculty advisor if you are unsure.

Technical Format

You must meet minimum format and technical quality standards before submitting your ePortfolio for final evaluation. The instructor of the exiting seminar provides an acceptable/not acceptable determination on the following technical criteria:

  • Completeness: Includes all required components for the ePortfolio.
  • Legibility: Fonts and type size vary appropriately for headings, sub-headings and text.
  • Accessibility: Easy navigability. Use of headings, subheadings and paragraphs for easy scanning. All links working.
  • Layout: Color of background, fonts, etc. enhance readability and aesthetic quality.

Development Timeline

Entering semester: You will participate in a series of uncredited workshops and experiences involving presentations by LIS faculty, staff, students, and practicing information professionals. The intent is to introduce you to the SLOs, pathways, courses, and LIS field. You will also be introduced to suggested ePortfolio platforms and begin designing and populating your ePortfolio.

Subsequent pre-graduation semesters: Keep track of your artifacts. Begin your reflective essays and continue to polish them. Keep reflective notes on communities and professional situations that interest you. Continually review the Guiding Questions for ePortfolio Essays to ensure that your coursework, artifacts and reflections support your interests and demonstrate how your work meet program standards. Review your evolving ePortfolio with your advisor during each advising session. Though you will not be enrolling in the 691 seminar during these middle semesters, you are encouraged to attend a voluntary workshop that will be offered each semester for students requesting assistance with specific elements of the ePortfolio.

All artifacts must be complete before you begin your final semester. Summer graduates must follow the timeline for spring graduates, as LIS 691 is not offered in summer.

Exiting semester: You will finalize your ePortfolio for faculty committee evaluation. You will also provide advice in a presentation to the first-semester students, engage in career preparation activities, and deliver a public presentation based on your ePortfolio. Important: Your ePortfolio must be completed and submitted for review by the middle of your exiting semester to provide adequate time for the evaluation.

Role and Responsibility of LIS Faculty Advisor

Your assigned LIS faculty advisor is closely involved in working with you to make sure that you remain on track with collecting and reviewing artifacts throughout your time in the Program. However, the responsibility lies with you as the student to:

  • Share your ePortfolio URL with your advisor by the end of your first year in the Program, so that your faculty advisor can access the site and review its development with you over time.
  • Review your evolving ePortfolio with your advisor during fall and spring course advising to best determine ongoing coursework that will be meaningful and relevant to your chosen professional interest/pathway.
  • Be sure that your faculty advisor supports the readiness of your ePortfolio for faculty committee review. Your advisor can only do so if they are kept apprised of your progress and any complications or concerns regarding the ePortfolio.

Faculty Evaluation of the ePortfolio

The deadline set by the LIS 691 instructor for ePortfolio submission at the beginning of the semester is firm. Unless there are exceptional circumstances communicated by the student and agreed to by the LIS 691 instructor in advance of the due date, faculty will review the version of the student’s ePortfolio as it exists by the due date.

Initially, your ePortfolio will be evaluated by one faculty member, who will be assigned by the LIS Program Coordinator.  You may ask the Program Coordinator to exclude one faculty member from selection as a reviewer, and the Program Coordinator will keep your request confidential.  For each SLO, your reflective essay will be assessed using the Guiding Questions for ePortfolio Essays. The evaluator will not re-evaluate the content of your artifacts; instead, they will refer to them as supporting evidence of your proficiency as demonstrated in your essays. Although the introduction and conclusion are not scored, they play an important role in contextualizing and personalizing your artifacts and reflections.

For each essay, the evaluator will issue either a Pass or Revise recommendation along with their comments. If an evaluator believes any essay requires revision, a second faculty evaluator will be consulted before the recommendation is finalized. If the two evaluators do not agree, a third evaluator will be consulted.  When you receive feedback, the faculty reviewer(s) will identify themselves.  Feedback will focus on strengthening specific SLO reflections, and only the identified essays will need to be revised. You will have one opportunity to revise and resubmit the specified essay(s) within ten days of notification. Students may request clarification of any evaluator comments via the LIS 691 instructor within this timeframe. The same faculty evaluators will review your revised submission, though students can request a change of faculty evaluators through the LIS Program Coordinator.

If the revised ePortfolio also does not pass, you will earn an NC in LIS 691 and will need to retake the seminar in a subsequent semester and pass the ePortfolio to complete graduation requirements. 

Public Presentation

In the exiting seminar, you will deliver a ten-minute public presentation to classmates, faculty, and potential employers (i.e., professional librarians and archivists in the field). This is your chance to demonstrate mastery of LIS skills and to celebrate your achievements in the Program. The presentation is not scored, however, the audience will be invited to provide you with supportive and critical feedback on your performance. You will also respond to impromptu questions from the audience.

An example of the public presentation prompt is: As an LIS professional, who will you help and how?

For any questions or concerns regarding the ePortfolio guidelines, artifacts, essays, evaluation, or presentation, please contact your faculty advisor, the LIS 691 instructor (if you are currently in the course), and/or the LIS Program Coordinator.