The Salish Kootenai College Assessment Program

At Salish Kootenai College, assessment is a structured process for improving teaching and learning and linking student learning outcomes with strategic planning. Both academic and non-academic student-support departments participate in an annual assessment cycle.

Academic departments determine the learning outcomes expected of graduates from each certificate or degree program. A Course Alignment Grid is used to align learning outcomes with specific courses in which course objectives lead to the particular outcomes. Course-embedded assessments include key assignments such as tests, written papers, presentations, and internship experiences that provide evidence of student achievement of the outcomes, so multiple data points are used as direct evidence for each outcome. Indirect measures such as course evaluations, feedback from internship experience, comments from the advisory committee, and exit evaluations also provide data concerning student achievement of learning outcomes.

Academic departments tabulate results of student achievement for designated key assignments. Results are analyzed with respect to desired goals for student achievement and previous years' results. Academic departments then determine "next steps" for improvement of teaching and learning; this information is contained in Outcomes Data Sheets for each program outcome.

Each department provides an annual report to the Office of Institutional Research summarizing assessment activities, outcomes, and activities that will be taken to improve unit effectiveness and/or student learning, as well as implications for departmental and college strategic planning. The Office of Institutional Research in turn provides a summary report of all department's assessment activities and implications for strategic planning to the Senior Administrative Team and the Salish Kootenai College Board of Directors.