Purpose
The purposes of Northland College's Assessment & Program Review Plan of student academic achievement of learning outcomes are as follows:
- To demonstrate achievement of student learning outcomes within an integrated curriculum including both technical and general education.
- To continuously improve program curriculum through review of student assessment results, validation of outcomes with business and industry and transfer institutions, and integration of general learning outcomes that contribute to graduates' bases of knowledge and our Institutional Learner Outcomes (formerly referred to as "Core Competencies").
- To demonstrate accountability and value of a NCTC education to the College's various stakeholders.
- To continuously review the validity of our assessment process in terms of providing meaningful information and reliable data.
Philosophy
Northland College recognizes that assessment methods must be grounded in our mission and effective in achieving our stated purposes. The basis for our assessment efforts lies in the curriculum and the value of the results will be evident in the connection of teaching and learning as a cause-and-effect process. What we do as educators in terms of delivery methods and techniques, the various methods by which students learn, and appropriate level and content of our curriculum are all factors in successful student learning.
As educators, we are responsible not only for teaching students in ways that can maximize their access to learning, but also for ensuring that we are teaching them what they need to know and to be able to do. Through our curriculum development and review processes, we validate that we are, indeed, teaching students what they need to know and to be able to do, as validated by business and industry employers. Through our assessment processes, NCTC will validate that students have gained the competencies expected of entry-level employees and transfer students as outlined by the learning outcomes of their programs.
It is the goal of NCTC to meet or exceed students' and employers' expectations. Our process for assessing student achievement of learning outcomes and for using the results to improve our programs, our delivery, and our services is dedicated to that goal.
