Jefferson State 8.2.a
8.2. – The institution identifies expected outcomes, assess the extent to which it achieves these outcomes, and provides evidence of seeking improvement based on analysis of the results in the areas below:
a. Student Learning outcomes for each of its education programs (Student outcomes: educational program)
SACSCOC Reviewer Comments:
Evidence of seeking improvement based upon an analysis of results is incomplete. Most of the information which the College identifies as results actually discusses plans with no executed results and no impact of the executed plans. For example, one ‘Use of Results’ section in the institution’s report states, ‘Perhaps using primary and secondary sources…will help raise this achievement…. Instructors plan to include outline reviews and improve lectures. Instructors plan to have students critique sample speeches… Instructors plan to meet again and discuss methodology….’
Referral Report Summary:
Based on the Committee’s review, the institution has a comprehensive system in place for the assessment of program-level learning outcomes for its Associate of Applied Science degree programs. However, comparable systems were not evidenced for its Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Short Certificates or Long Certificates. Materials provided by the institution document general education learning outcomes and course-specific learning outcomes within its general education disciplines. However, the Committee could not find a clear list of program-specific learning outcomes for the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science programs. It also could not locate evidence of learning outcomes or associated assessments was provided for the institution’s certificate programs.
The institution should provide evidence that it has defined learning outcomes for each of its (Long Certificate programs), has assessed the extent to which students are achieving those outcomes and has sought improvements based on analysis of assessment results.
The College provided the program-specific learning outcomes for the Associate in Art (AA), the Associate in Science (AS), and the assessment records for Short and Long Certificate Programs. The assessment records provided (AA, AS, Associate of Applied Science, and Short and Long Certificate Programs) displayed the extent to which students achieve outcomes and improvements sought by the programs based on the analysis of assessment results.
Institution Response:
In response to the SACSCOC reviewer’s comments, Jefferson State Community College has provided two years of assessment records (2019-2020 and 2020-2021) for our largest enrollment transfer courses that support the Transfer Program Outcomes. The institutional reporting form includes a column labeled “Use of Results” in which academic areas are required to provide evidence of the changes that were made seeking improvement based on the previous year’s data as well as evidence of seeking improvement from the current year’s data (See Figure 1). Evidence of changes based on the current year’s data is provided in cases where it was available. Examples include changes to the syllabus, assignments, or anything readily available at the time of this document’s submission. Some academic areas did not provide evidence for changes made to the 2021-2022 cycle (based on 2020-2021 data), such as changes to midterm and/or final exams because they had not yet occurred at the time of submission. These changes will be documented in the next assessment cycle.
The transfer programs (Associate in Arts and Associate in Science) have five established outcomes and are assessed in the College’s largest enrollment transfer courses. Individual departments have an assessment schedule that covers their complete course offerings. Each course is mapped to at least one of the outcomes listed below.
- The student will demonstrate effective reading, writing, and speaking skills.
- The student will demonstrate ability to apply reasoning and logic to assess ideas and situations, support positions, draw conclusions and solve problems.
- The student will demonstrate the ability to identify, analyze, organize, and synthesize credible resources in a manner that respects intellectual property.
- The student will demonstrate understanding of mathematical concepts and scientific principles and ability to use computers.
- The student will demonstrate understanding of events in history and developments in the arts and social sciences that have shaped civilizations.
Course Map to Transfer Program Outcomes
The chart below illustrates how each large enrollment transfer course is linked to a specific outcome. By clicking on the academic year next to the course title, the specific course assessment record which displays the outcome, the extent to which it achieves the outcome, and evidence of seeking improvement, may be viewed.
| Courses | Year Record | Trans Prgm Outcome #1 | Trans Prgm Outcome #2 | Trans Prgm Outcome #3 | Trans Prgm Outcome #4 | Trans Prgm Outcome #5 |
| ENG 101 | 19-20 20-21 | x | x | x | ||
| ENG 102 | 19-20 20-21 | x | x | x | ||
| ENG 251 | 19-20 20-21 | x | x | x | ||
| ART 100 | 19-20 20-21 | x | ||||
| MUS 101 | 19-20 20-21 | x | ||||
| SPH 106 | 19-20 20-21 | x | x | x | ||
| SPH 107 | 19-20 20-21 | x | x | x | ||
| MTH 100 | 19-20 20-21 | x | x | |||
| MTH 112 | 19-20 20-21 | x | x | |||
| BIO 101 | 19-20 20-21 | x | x | |||
| BIO 103 | 19-20 20-21 | x | x | |||
| HIS 101 | 19-20 20-21 | x | x | x | x | |
| HIS 201 | 19-20 20-21 | x | x | x | x | |
| PSY 200 | 19-20 20-21 | x | ||||
| SOC 200 | 19-20 20-21 | x |
Each Career and Technical Education (CTE) program has established student learning outcomes and student attainment of these outcomes is assessed each academic year in a similar manner as the transfer program outcomes. The chart below provides links to outcomes assessment data for each academic year listed for programs that were included in the institution’s fifth-year report. The CTE programs report the assessment data on the same form that is used for the transfer programs and the assessment cycle is the same for each of these programs. The outcomes that the CTE areas choose to assess are driven by their respective national accrediting bodies (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, The American Culinary Federation Accrediting Commission, Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing).