Yavapai College > SLOA

• A
• A
• A
• |

Tools:

Student Learning & Outcomes Assessment (SLOA)

Welcome to the SLOA website. The SLOA Committee consists of members representing a variety of areas within our campus community and our goal is to help faculty develop and measure outcomes within their courses and programs using assessment tools that provide both students and faculty with information about student progress towards the outcomes.

There is a lot of information on the site for faculty, students and the community about our programs, outcomes, and assessment results. If you have questions or comments, please contact Chris Heyer, Outcomes Assessment Director @ 928.649.4568,  send an email or to reach Molly Beauchman, Ph.D., SLOA Committee Chairperson @ 928.776.2341, send an email or any SLOA Committee member.

Assessment Goal and Mission

Our mission and academic approach at Yavapai College is to provide high-quality, convenient and cost-effective learning opportunities for the diverse population of Yavapai County. We provide students with knowledge and skills needed for transfer to a college or university, to obtain a job, or to advance their career.

In harmony with Yavapai College's Mission, the Student Learning & Outcomes Assessment (SLOA) Committee is committed to using best practices in instruction to help students learn the desired outcomes and assessment to inform students about their progress towards learning outcomes and to inform faculty about the effectiveness of their instruction and curriculum. SLOA is a standing Faculty Association Committee.  The purpose of the SLOA Committee is to design, review, and recommend student outcome procedures, methods, and activities consistent with Yavapai College's academic goals, and to maintain a culture of assessment.  The SLOA Committee is made up of representatives from each academic area appointed by Academic Division Deans.

What is "Assessment"?

Assessment is the systematic collection, review, and use of information about educational programs for the purpose of improving student learning and development.  It is an ongoing process aimed at understanding and improving student learning and instruction. Assessment includes making our expectations explicit and public; setting appropriate criteria and standards for learning quality; and interpreting evidence to determine how well performances matches those expectations and standards and improving performance. Assessment also allows academic departments to budget resources efficiently and effectively.  As a process, assessment has four steps that you should know - Assessment will...

Select teaching and learning strategies Gather data on student learning Evaluate the data, and Make decisions and implement them

Why We Assess:

In a word, Improvement.  Assessment provides information and data to improve student learning, instruction, and improvement to programs and courses. Assessment. Assessment is a collaborative process that is faculty-driven and includes faculty, students, and the community to create a shared process for curriculum development and the improvement of learning. Assessment assures us -- and you! - that students are reaching their goals and acquiring the knowledge and skills to further their education, enter a career, or advance in their career, job, or life.

As a student, assessment...

• Communicates clear expectations in programs and courses
• Informs you that you will be evaluated in those programs and courses, and
• Helps you make better choices about academic programs, courses, and educational choices

Fundamental Questions of Assessment:

One of the first tasks academic divisions discuss are fundamental questions about assessment. We use the following six (6) fundamental questions to drive our thought process and planning for developing assessment plans and processes. These questions were developed by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), our accrediting agency.

1. How are stated student learning outcomes appropriate to your mission, programs, degrees, students, and other stakeholders?
2. What evidence do you have that students achieve your stated learning outcomes?
3. In what ways do you analyze and use evidence of student learning?
4. How do you ensure shared responsibility for student learning and assessment of student learning?
5. How do you evaluate and improve the effectiveness of your efforts to assess and improve student learning?
6. In what ways do you inform the public about what students learn-and how well they learn it?

Assessment Resources to assist you:

• Assessment Guiding Principles & Best Practices
• SLOA Glossary/Definitions
• SLOA Process Diagram
• Helping Students Understand Assessment
• Assessment Reflective Questions and Resources

---

SLOA Site /Assessment Links:

Assessment Days- Celebrations Assessment-Employee Day events First Friday Events (thru 2011) Faculty Showcase; 2011, 2012	Committee
Course Assessment 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11	Minutes 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11
Training and Tutorials	Program Assessment Curriculum Mapping Program Assessment Plans Program Assessment Reports
General Education Associate of General Studies Arizona General Education (AGEC) Certificates

Important Dates

• SLOA Committee Meetings for Spring 2013:
  
• February 8, 2013; 9-10:30am; 19-215 & G-107
• March 8, 2013, 9-10:30am, 19-215 & G-107
• April 12, 2013, 9-10:30am, 19-215 & G-107
• May 10, 2013, 9-10:30am, 19-215 & G-107


• Form #1 Due: October 26, 2012
• Form #2 Due: May 18, 2013
• Form #3 Due: June 30, 2013

Documents & Forms

2012-13 Assessment Forms:

• Form 1 - Assessment Plan
• Form 2 - Report Form
• Form 3 - Report Form

Search This Website

To search only the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment website, enter text in the box below, then click 'Search'.