Instructional Assessment Overview

Overview of Learning Outcome Assessment at COCC

Assessment of student learning is a foundational activity at COCC. All credit courses and programs/degrees have approved learning outcomes. Course outcomes align with program and degree outcomes, which are mapped to COCC's core institutional competencies and overall mission. Outcomes are assessed informally on a daily basis as well as formally during COCC's five-year assessment cycle.

COCC's instructional assessment focus is at the program and degree level. We believe that developing effective and responsive programs and degrees has the most significant impact for our students as they continue from CTE programs to the workforce and from transfer degrees to a baccalaureate institution.

Program outcomes are approved by the chair, dean, and Curriculum Committee; general education outcomes are determined by the state. All program and degree outcomes are published in the Catalog.

All program outcomes associated with CTE certificates and degrees and general education outcomes associated with discipline studies and foundational courses required for transfer degrees are assessed and reported on a five year schedule. 

Instructional Assessment Process

As of Academic Year 23-24, the instructional assessment process has been streamlined from a multi-phase reporting process down to a single "close-the-loop" report submitted to the Learning Outcomes and Assessment (LOA) Committee at the conclusion of the assessment project. Assessment data collection occurs in the Canvas LMS using institutional and/or program outcome rubrics, which faculty then analyze to determine how well their course design and teaching practices serve the learning of their students. Collecting data in Canvas allows for that data to be disaggregated by critical demographic markers, which help faculty identify equity gaps in their courses and programs. The report submitted to LOA at the conclusion of the assessment project summarizes faculty findings, presents a plan of action for addressing identified issues/concerns, and offers a timetable for implementing and assessing the plan of action.

Course and Program Outcomes

Course and program outcomes are approved by the chair, dean, and Curriculum Committee and then published to students in the catalog and on each section syllabus. Instructors report the improvements made from course assessment on their annual report of activities which is reviewed by their chair and dean, and is part of their file considered for tenure and promotion.

Adult Basic Skills provides non-credit training in two program areas: Adult Basic Education/Adult Secondary Education (ABE/ASE) and English Language Learning (ELL). These programs have identified program learning outcomes and engage in a routine cycle of outcomes assessment.