Course Assessment
Course assessment is the assessment of student learning within a particular course. A course should be assessed for whether students are achieving the learning outcomes as stated in the master syllabus for that course. All sections of a course that are assessed should be assessed for the same learning outcomes and using the same assessment instrument. Course assessment is often accomplished through tools such as departmental or other exams, portfolios, or projects. Course assessment is not the evaluation of a particular section of faculty member.
Courses should be assessed on the same cycle as that for the three-year master syllabus review. Thus, each course will be assessed at least once every three years. Each time a master syllabus comes to Curriculum Committee for review (whether for a major /minor change or for the three-year review), it should be accompanied by the Course Assessment Report Form showing assessment activity and results.
Program Assessment
Program assessment is the assessment of student learning within a particular academic program leading to a degree or certificate. A program should be assessed for whether students are achieving the learning outcomes developed by the department that should be stated in the program approval documents for that program. Program assessment often is done through capstone experiences, portfolios, graduate or employer surveys, or licensure exams. Program assessment is not the evaluation of student achievement of learning objectives within courses that are part of the program, but rather of students' overall achievement of the broad goals of the academic program (e.g. employment, mastery of certain skills, successful transfer, etc.)
Programs should be assessed every four years.
General Education Assessment
General Education assessment is the assessment of student learning within the curricular areas meeting the College's general education requirements for a degree: writing, speech, mathematics, natural science, social and behavioral science, arts and humanities, critical thinking, and computer information literacy. Because the general education requirement is an institutional requirement that crosses disciplines, assessment occurs on a broader scale than course or program assessment. The general education areas are assessed for whether students are achieving the learning outcomes as stated in the College Catalogue for each area. General education assessment is currently done through standardized testing (writing, mathematics, and natural science), surveys or prompts (social and behavioral science and arts and humanities), evaluated speeches (speech), and institutionally developed or administered exams (critical thinking and computer and information literacy). General education assessment may occur in any of the courses that meet the general education requirement, and certain institutional assessments may also take place in courses outside the general educational areas.
General education areas are assessed every other year.