Outcomes assessment at South Central College (SCC) is the process of collecting, analyzing, and using data about student learning to focus institutional efforts on improving student achievement and the learning experience.
Assessment at South Central College is based on the following principles:
- Assessment is an ongoing process that leads to change and improvement.
- Assessment is not a task solely performed as a requirement of accrediting agencies - the reason for assessment is improvement.
- The use of data to support change leads to the most meaningful improvements.
- Assessment raises as many questions as it answers.
- Assessment focuses the attention of the College on continuous quality improvement.
The Institutional Core Competency (ICC), assessment process at SCC includes an annual cross-curricular assessment of at least one ICC, academic program-level and course-level assessment, and administrative/student support assessment. The components of the annual assessment process include:
- Reviewing the program/department mission
- Identifying the student learning outcomes to assess this cycle
- Selecting assessment measures and establishing the criteria for success
- Linking program and course assessments to the institutional core competencies
- Implementing the assessment and collecting data
- Using assessment results to improve student learning and administrative/student support
Institutional Core Competency (ICC) Assessment
SCC’s Institutional Core Competencies encourage students to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of all educated individuals.
SCC has developed a college-wide ICC Immersion Experience that is convened each May to assess a minimum of one ICC. As part of this experience, all programs are required to submit artifacts of student work that demonstrate competency with a specific ICC. At the end of the academic year, volunteer faculty participate in a three-day session where they perform a college-wide ICC assessment using submitted artifacts as evidence of proficiency.
What are Institutional Core Competencies (ICCs) and why should I care?
South Central Collage’s ICCs are learning outcomes focused on specific life skills:
- Communication
- Critical and Creative Thinking
- Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility
- Cultural Competence
These skills help students become more successful as a student, employee, and citizen after graduation. South Central College courses integrate the teaching of ICCs in their curriculum.
Specific outcomes of ICCs curriculum integration include students’:
- Career Success
- Ability to succeed after transferring to a 4-Year Institution
- Earning Potential
- Community Leadership
Program-Level Assessment
Career programs have identified Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) that describe the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students develop through successful completion of the program. Programs align their annual outcomes assessments to the College's Institutional Core Competencies on their Assessment Plans. These Assessment Plans are maintained in the Office of Research and Institutional Effectiveness.
Course-Level Assessment
Each course at South Central College has defined learning outcomes, which are listed on the Common Course Outline for each course. Course faculty link their learning outcomes to the ICC’s. Students, please refer to your course syllabus for more information.
Are our students graduating with the knowledge and proficiencies necessary and needed to move on to jobs in the real world? How do we know? How will we know?
Why is Assessment Important
What are we doing well? Why? What are we struggling with? Why? What can we do better? How? These are all questions that assessment can strive to answer!
As a college, we strive to be assessment-driven in our decisions and to incorporate “a culture of assessment.” Faculty, staff, and administration are the cogs in the wheel of assessment! If a few people slip, the wheel may still turn. However, as an learning institution we cannot allow the “wheel of assessment” to stop turning!
What can be done, you ask? Use the information available to educate ourselves and make improvements! Click on the links to the left to obtain more information regarding various aspects of assessment.
Please contact the Office of Student and Academic Affairs with any questions, comments, or concerns.
