Assessment: Student Learning Outcomes and Co-Curricular

This is historical data.

Task: As stated in the HLC action letter, Highlands must provide evidence that the institution has ameliorated the findings of non-compliance identified in this action that resulted in the imposition of Probation, Core Component 4.B:

1. a formally approved assessment plan for informal (not embedded into degree programs) co-curricular programs/experiences that the University claims contribute to student learning outcomes; and
2. the plan must include clearly stated goals, evidence-based methodology for assessment, a regular assessment schedule, a report template that includes “closing the loop” and dissemination of assessment information to key stakeholders, and incorporation of co-curricular program assessment into the officially approved University assessment handbook;

More information was provided in the HLC action letter:

The University is out of compliance with Criterion Four, Core Component 4.B, “the institution demonstrates a commitment to educational achievement and improvement through ongoing assessment of student learning,” for the following reasons:

• The University has not demonstrated a commitment to assessment of student learning as required by this Core Component because:
  • the University has yet to fully implement its assessment of student learning processes and demonstrates a lack of attentiveness to institutional progress in assessment;
  • the University has no assessment of student learning outcomes for co-curricular experiences, except for those embedded in academic degree programs;
  • assessment of student learning outcomes has been a longstanding challenge for the University that it has not resolved, having been identified as a challenge in the 2000 Comprehensive Report, an area of focus in the 2004 Focused Visit, and an area needing continuing attention in the 2009 Comprehensive Report;
• Both the IAC Hearing Committee and the visiting team concurred that the first step in addressing these issues is to assess the institution’s attrition, which still remains to be identified as a core problem with satisfactory solutions attempted or accomplished; and
• While the University in its August 2016 response described its work in this area, there remains some residual confusion between assessment of student learning and program review, with the most recent response focusing on program review rather than assessment of student learning, and there does not appear to have been a thorough assessment of the University’s attrition.

Resolution: Highlands needs to accomplish the following things to resolve Probation Area:

Co-Curricular Resolution:

1. Create a co-curricular program assessment plan that includes clearly stated goals, evidence-based methodology for assessment, a regular assessment schedule, and a report template that “closes the loop.”
2. Formally approval of the plan into the Assessment Handbook by Faculty Senate, General Faculty, Administration, and Board of Regents.
3. Dissemination of the Assessment Handbook to “key stakeholders,” i.e. the co-curricular groups who would need to do assessments.
4. Co-curricular groups gather data and complete their assessments according to the schedule passed in the Assessment Handbook.
5. Co-curricular assessment reports are reviewed and feedback provided to “close the loop.”

Student Learning / Academic Outcomes Assessment Resolution:

1. Increase compliance of the number of programs finishing their assessment of student learning outcomes (Outcomes Assessment).
2. Tie Outcomes Assessment to the Strategic Planning and Budgeting Process.
3. Regularly monitor and report on the progress of Outcomes Assessment Process.

Assessment of Attrition Resolution:

1. Retention issues are addressed in Action Plan 4.C.

Background: With regard to the Assessment of Co-Curricular Activities, this is a relatively new requirement of the HLC. Highlands has a number of activities we identify as “co-curricular,” meaning that they help our students improve their learning outcomes (which we call the 4 student traits here at Highlands). While many of these programs have done regular self-assessments and reports, such as ARMAS or the library, there has not been one standard assessment process that all programs must follow, and there was no regularly centralized review of these programs.