The 3-Year Assessment Cycle

---

In April 2020, the Academic Senate adopted and approved a new assessment cycle in which all active courses will be now be assessed on a three-year cycle starting in the Fall 2020 semester.

Student learning outcomes exist at the course, program, and institutional levels.

• Course-level outcomes are referred to as course student learning outcomes (CSLOs), which are measurable statements that define the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students are expected to achieve upon completion of our courses.
• Program-level student learning outcomes (PSLOs) are measurable statements that define the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students are expected to achieve upon completion of our programs.
• Institutional-level student learning outcomes (ISLOs) are measurable statements that define the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students are expected to achieve upon graduation from LPC.

Student area outcomes exist for student services.

• Outcomes for student services are referred to as service area outcomes (SAOs), which are measurable statements after interacting with a student service area.

It is required by ACCJC, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, that institutions engage in assessment, evaluation, and reflection. Additionally, ACCJC states that institutions must systematically and regularly evaluate how well and in what ways it is accomplishing its purposes, including assessment of student learning. Faculty are responsible for assessing their courses (CSLOs) and examining programs by reviewing and discussing PSLOs.  Evaluation, discussion, and report of program-level outcomes are done through Program Review.  The Institutional Planning and Effectiveness Committee (IPEC) gathers and evaluates institutional data (ISLOs).   

What you need to know about the new 3-Year Assessment Plan

• All active courses must be assessed within each department. This excludes courses that are not offered due to course cancellations, ones that have been deleted or newly added, or for other documented circumstances. However, if a course is canceled and offered at another time, the course is considered active and must be included in your assessment plan.
• As a department, when and which PSLO should be assessed should be indicated on the assessment plan. At least one PSLO should be assessed within the 3-year cycle. One consideration is to align assessment of the course SLOs that feed into the PSLOs so that all course SLOs are assessed at the same time.  This will allow each department to discuss and report on PSLO results as part of program review. 
• Assessment of non-major courses (e.g., general education courses) should be assessed at least once within the 3-year cycle.  The CSLO(s) that will be assessed for each active course should be selected by the department. There are no requirements related to when and how many SLOs must be assessed per course so long as at least one CSLO is assessed when the course is up for review per the 3-year plan.
• Although a course might be offered every semester throughout the 3-year cycle, the course only needs to be assessed at least once within the time frame. Some departments may choose to assess a course more often, while others can choose to assess a course only once during the three years.
• If a course is only offered once every year or two, the department's assessment plan must reflect this. Make sure that the assessment plan reflects the department's long-term course offerings. When a department updates when a course is offered, the 3-year assessment plan must also be updated.
• All department 3-year assessment plans will be posted on the Student Learning Outcomes webpage.  Please send completed planning templates to the SLO Chair for approval.
• Departmental SLO coordinators will plan the assessments every semester according to the approved 3-year planning template.  Full-time and part-time faculty will enter assessment into eLumen as planned.
• SAO coordinators will plan assessments for the academic year.  Faculty and staff in student service areas will enter assessment data into eLumen as planned.
• It is the department's responsibility to ensure all courses, degrees, and certificates have SLOs entered into eLumen. 

Summary of Your SLO/SAO Tasks:

1. All courses, programs, certificates, degrees, and student areas have learning outcomes in eLumen.
2. PSLOs have been mapped in eLumen.
3. The 3-Year Planning Template has been completed and posted on Student Learning Outcomes webpage.
4. Assessments are planned for every semester in eLumen.
5. Faculty participation reports are run at the completion of every semester to ensure assessments have entered.
6. Reports on are run for analysis and discussion.