SACS Compliance Certification Report (PDF) - South Florida State ...

Plan (UAP) and/or budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year.3.3.1.1 Educational ProgramsSFCC provides a comprehensive range of educational programs compatible with the mission and purposeof the institution. This narrative further identifies expected outcomes in educational programs, includingstudent learning outcomes, as part of an ongoing institutional effectiveness process described in CoreRequirement 2.5.In 2007, the Institutional Effectiveness Department and Academic Quality Committee formalized a newframework for assessing educational programs. The new process created an electronic educationalprogram assessment format using the college intranet to report consistently and document efforts toachieve program missions, student learning outcomes, performance measures, performance standards,data collection methods, analysis of findings, and improvement efforts. The initiation of the learningoutcomes focus began with an assessment workshop presented by Dr. Peggy Maki that introduced thenew outcomes measurement process.Student learning outcomes are identified at the institutional, program, and course level. Institutionally,there are courses that introduce or reinforce college-wide general education outcomes. For morediscussion on general education student learning outcomes see CR 2.7.3. Additionally, each educationalprogram has designated program mission, program outcomes, performance measures, and programprofile data used for assessment purposes. At the course level, student learning outcomes or objectivesand competencies are identified in each course syllabus.Assessment of Student Learning OutcomesThe measurement of student learning achievement occurs at the three distinct levels previouslymentioned. At the institutional level, measures such as the Community College Student Survey ofEngagement (CCSSE), Student Opinion Survey (SOS), Core Indicators of Effectiveness,Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and graduate surveys providevaluable benchmarking and information regarding the overall effectiveness of the college in meeting itsmission of providing student learning.At the programmatic level, the primary instrument for documenting student accomplishment of learningis the Educational Program Assessment (EPA). The EPA is developed, monitored, and assessed bydiscipline faculty. Outcome performance measurements found in the EPA may include accreditationfindings, licensure or certification pass rates, retention, graduation rates, employer satisfaction surveys,student satisfaction surveys, job placement rates, and outcomes specific to exit knowledge, skills andcompetencies. The educational program is assessed and documented annually; activities forimprovement in program performance and student learning are identified during the annual assessment.Additional mechanisms used to assess and improve program performance and student learning at theprogram level include input from advisory committees and information gathered during the accreditationof selected technical programs. All technical programs have active advisory committees who providequalitative summaries regarding currency of curriculum, performance of graduates once employed, andguidance to program faculty regarding emerging trends and issues. Accreditation teams also provide indepthassessment and recommendations for improvement to the Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting,Automotive Service Technology, and Radiology programs.The course-level assessment of student learning is determined by faculty and discipline or departmentcriteria established in the course syllabi. Data sources used to assess student learning may includeresults from embedded assessments, projects, rubrics, course projects, exit exam pass rates, retentionrates, productive grade rates, success in subsequent courses (developmental courses), focus groups, andSouth Florida Community College Page 79 / 202student evaluation of instruction. For those courses offered via distance learning there will also be anadditional course-level comparison with student performance in the same subject, but a traditionalclassroom setting. Dual-enrolled courses receive a yearly analysis to assure the quality of educational