Who?
Faculty, staff, administrators, and students all play roles in the student learning outcomes and assessment process. Since instruction and student services are at the heart of the educational experience, faculty, through the curriculum process, take the lead in developing outcomes and assessment. Learning outcomes and assessment are applied within courses as well as within programs. Ultimately, learning outcomes and assessment are applied at the general education level and address instructional support and student support services.
What?
Student learning outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes that a student has attained at the end (or as a result) of his or her engagement in a particular set of collegiate experiences. Assessment includes the methods an institution employs to gather evidence and evaluate quality. Dialogue is the self-reflective exchanges engaged in by the college community, characterized by a free exchange of ideas.
Where?
The ongoing process of student learning outcomes and assessment pervades the fabric of our college – from its mission to its classrooms to its services in support of student success.
When?
We have been engaged in this process since the 2002 adoption of the new accreditation standards. We have adopted educational core competencies, modified our curriculum process to embrace learning outcomes, and engaged in outcome considerations through the program review process and through college-wide strategic planning. Now (2007- 2008) is the time to expand and refine our efforts with particular attention to assessment, analysis, and planning as we work toward our accreditation self-study in preparation for our 2009 accreditation visit.
Why?
At Citrus College, we value student success and uphold the principles of accreditation.