Current Assessment Activities
Macomb Community College’s commitment to student learning is demonstrated by our comprehensive assessment system, which incorporates multiple strategies to create a shared understanding of student learning. These strategies have a positive impact on institutional and student performance, and help stakeholders understand why assessment is useful and meaningful. Faculty participate in a variety of assessment strategies in order to improve and maintain student learning.
Accreditation Cycles
Macomb offers multiple programs that have been accredited or approved by an outside organization, in addition to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Each outside organization requires these programs to meet specific criteria based on the specialization of each field. Once approved or accredited, these programs must continue to provide multiple forms of evidence that demonstrate how they use assessment of course and program outcomes to improve or maintain student learning.
Assess Fest
Assess Fest is an opportunity for faculty to work with their cross-disciplinary colleagues to examine artifacts for evidence of student learning aligned to the Common Degree Outcomes. Assess Fest is composed of three interrelated sessions: norming, assessing and gathering feedback. The norming session provides assessors the opportunity to practice using a common rubric with common sample artifacts, discuss any discrepancies in scoring those artifacts and come to agreement on how to use the rubric to score different aspects of artifacts. The assessment portion of the day consists of two one-hour blocks in which assessors fill out rubrics for the student artifacts. Two different assessors look at each artifact in order to determine the extent to which multiple assessors reached consensus on scores for each criterion on the rubric. The data from assessed artifacts is compiled into a spreadsheet so Institutional Research (IR) can conduct multiple analyses. After Assess Fest has concluded, the Assessment Committee asks assessors to provide feedback on different aspects of the event in order to increase engagement and participation.
Curriculum Mapping
Curriculum mapping is used to ensure alignment between different courses within a program. Lead faculty work with their department, as needed, to create a curriculum map. Each department is then asked to examine when skills (outcomes) are introduced, reinforced or mastered throughout the program to ensure that course sequence and program outcomes align with the skills students should acquire in order to be successful outside of the college.
Curriculum Proposals
The curriculum proposal process begins when course or program lead faculty have identified the need for modifications or new course offerings, often based on assessment or program review processes. Lead faculty complete curriculum paperwork in the Curriculog system, ensuring that all areas impacted by curricular changes have been considered. Once the proposal has been approved in Curriculog it must be presented at a Curriculum Committee meeting, where the committee members review the proposal and recommend changes that will benefit students and align with the college’s mission.
Program Review
Program Review provides a framework to help faculty evaluate a program in its entirety, considering multiple components, not just assessment. However, one component in the process specifically focuses on how assessment has been used to maintain or improve student learning. The final comprehensive report requires faculty to include a narrative about assessment data along with a curriculum map showing the alignment between courses and the program outcomes.
Syllabus Review
Lead faculty for each course review the outcomes, objectives, course description, content outline and Common Degree Outcomes on the syllabus and determine if changes are needed or if the information is current and relevant. Faculty can use multiple assessment strategies and data points to determine what changes, if any, need to be made every other year during Official Course Syllabus Review Year. Academic Development provides support for this ongoing assessment practice, working to implement a review process that meets the needs of all faculty.