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 the course that is 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. Best practice is that after a course assessment is completed, a master syllabus update should also be submitted.
Courses should be assessed every three years.
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. Assessment plans are stated in the program approval or program assessment plan documents for that program. Program assessment often is done through capstone experiences, portfolios, or licensure exams. In other programs, the assessment results of several upper-level courses may be used to evaluate student learning. Program assessment evaluates the students' overall achievement of the broad goals of the academic program.
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, second writing or communication, mathematics, natural science, social and behavioral science and arts and humanities. 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 for each area. General education assessment is currently done through tests, surveys or prompts, or evaluated communication. General education assessment may occur in any of the courses that meet the general education requirement and should, over several cycles, include all courses that fulfill the general education requirement.
General education areas are assessed every other year.