Alphabet Soup – Assessment Language

1. Alphabet Soup – Assessment Language Presented by: John Elder and Tim Gilmour

2. Agenda • Development • Terms with definition and examples • Governing Bodies • Accreditation Terms • Dual Credit Terms • Assessment Terms

3. Development • Terms where pulled from the glossary in the program • Glossary was developed using common Sandburg acronyms and an accreditation glossary • Not all terms were used but tried to identify the highlights

4. Governing Bodies • AACC: The American Association of Community Colleges: This organization is the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges. It also serves as a national information resource. • Think Data. We report tons of data to tem from Retention, Persistence, and Completion.

5. Governing Bodies • ICCB: The Illinois Community College Board is an organization that helps community colleges serve the community by smoothing the transition into and through postsecondary education, enhancing accountability and monitoring student progress through data, and developing a career pathway system. • Think Data. We report tons of data to tem from Retention, Persistence, and Completion to the square footage of classrooms and buildings.

6. Accrediting Bodies • HLC: The Higher Learning Commission is a regional Accreditation Body. This organization helps ensure that we are following regulations regarding quality of education and services. It covers basically everything that the college does. • Think of a school principal…

7. Accreditation… • Accreditation Process: Generally, this consists of three steps: • The Quality Initiative Proposal: A proposal submitted by an institution which explains the major improvement effort the institution will undertake. • Think of the process of acquiring a license…you have to get so many hours experience driving • Assurance Argument: A narrative in which the institution explains how it meets HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. • Showing that you can actually drive (initial test) • Compliance:Assuring the College is following the rules set down by regulatory bodies. • Keeping your license by not getting too many speeding tickets

8. Accreditation Continued… • Open Pathway: A process for maintaining accreditation with HLC that features a 10-year cycle where quality assurance and quality improvement are addressed separately. • Renewing your license • Evidence File: A place where we store the documents used to support the Assurance Argument. • Again, showing that you have actually done it (or remaining compliant?).

9. Accreditation Continued… • ALO: Accreditation Liaison Officer. This person communicates with the HLC regarding policies, practices, and other accreditation matters. • Here this person is Michelle Johnson.

10. Related to Accreditation • The ALO is currently working closely with others on dual credit • DC: Dual Credit refers to courses taught to high school students for which the student receives both high school and college credit.

11. Dual Credit • Additional Location: A place that is geographically separate from any main or branch campus, where instruction takes place and students can do one or more of the following: • Complete at least half of the courses leading to a degree • Complete at least half of the courses leading to a Title IV eligible certificate • Complete a degree program that was started at another institution even if less than half of the courses required to finish the degree are taken there. • Abingdon Avon, Warsaw, Hamilton

12. Dual Credit Continued • Branch Campus: A location of an institution that is geographically apart and independent of the main campus if the location has all four of the following attributes: • It is permanent. • It offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or a recognized credential. • It has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization. • It has its own budgetary and hiring authority. • The Carthage Campus

13. Related to Assessment • Assessment/ Evaluation: The making of a judgment about the amount, number, or value of something. • The act of purchasing a car, which is more important fuel efficiency or horse-power • Continuous Improvement:an ongoing effort to improve products, services or processes. • Last time I bought a car I got a lemon at this dealer so I’m never going there again

14. Related to Assessment • CCSSE: The Community College Survey on Student Engagement. It provides information on student engagement related to five major areas of: • Active Learning • Student Effort • Academic Challenge • Faculty Interaction • Support for Learners • Think of this as the Consumer Reports

15. Related to Assessment Continued • Goals: What we intended to happen • Buying a safe, fuel efficient, hatchback, under 24,000 • Outcomes: What actually happened • I bought a Ford Mustang • Likert Scales: A measurement device that is used to gauge attitudes, values, and opinions through the completion of a questionnaire that indicates the extent to which someone agrees or disagrees with a series of statements • How many stars you gave it

16. Even More Things Related to Assessment • SMART Goals: Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely • Think your KPIs • SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats • A key to planning and creating KPIs

17. Even More Things Related to Assessment • Synergy: The cooperation of two or more people or organizations to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. • Think Social Media and News (Twitter and Fact Checkers)… • Or even this presentation…

18. What We Covered Today • Glossary Development • Definitions and Examples of Terms • Governing Bodies • Accreditation Terms • Dual Credit Terms • Assessment Terms

19. Questions & Comments