Learning Outcomes Assessment in Student Services

1. Learning Outcomes Assessment in Student Services A Statewide Initiative in Maryland League for Innovation: Learning Summit

2. Context • Introduce presenters • Maryland’s community college governance structure • Affinity Groups and MACC • Statewide assessment project started about a year ago League for Innovation: Learning Summit

3. Genesis • Emphasis for re-accreditation and changes to the Middle States Association “Characteristics of Excellence” • NASPA Conference – Marilee Breschiani • Half day retreat with State VPs/Deans in June 2003 League for Innovation: Learning Summit

4. Process – June 2003 Student Learning Assessment Workshop Marilee Bresciani (Director of Assessment at North Carolina State University) • Deans/VPs attended • Moved from assessment of student satisfaction to assessment of learning • Discussed core indicators • Developed process for developing a statewide assessment plan League for Innovation: Learning Summit

5. Process – October 2003 The Year of Assessment for Student Services in Maryland Community Colleges Workshop • About 150 staff attended and worked in groups by functional area • Deans/VPs held a caucus to discuss the overall plan • Identified core learning values delivered at colleges and how to gather evidence to show that the learning is occurring League for Innovation: Learning Summit

6. Process – November 2003 • VPs/Deans met with Dr. Jim Ball, Academic Vice President at Carroll Community College to clarify what was wanted from Affinity Groups • Clearly defined “core value” • Developed a matrix to distribute to the Affinity Group chairs League for Innovation: Learning Summit

7. Definition of Self-Directed Learner The student will: • Define a need or problem and employ effective decision-making to resolve it • Plan ahead/set goals • Acquire knowledge • Use available resources • Seek assistance from appropriate people/experts • Apply critical analysis to consider options • Evaluate decisions League for Innovation: Learning Summit

8. The Matrix League for Innovation: Learning Summit

9. Process – March 2004 Learning Outcomes Assessment Status Reports From Affinity Groups to Deans/VPs • Groups focused on the core learning value of becoming a self-directed learner • Groups developed outcomes, strategies, measurements, benchmarks, and feedback loops • Deans/VPs offered the groups suggestions for revisions and improvements League for Innovation: Learning Summit

10. Process • April-May 2004 affinity groups completed revisions • June 2004 VPs/Deans again reviewed matrices and further refined the layout • October 2004 again staff will meet with Marilee for a workshop to further develop their work • Focus on core learning values and evidence to support that learning occurred League for Innovation: Learning Summit

11. Examples • Advising/Counseling Affinity Group • Harford Community College Mentoring Program • Frederick Community College Counseling and Career Services Program League for Innovation: Learning Summit

12. Maryland Community College Advising Affinity Group Matrix Learning Outcomes Project GOAL: Self-Directed Learner Presented by: K. Jill Barr, Director Counseling, Advising & Retention Services Anne Arundel Community College League for Innovation: Learning Summit

13. Maryland Community College Advising Affinity Group Matrix for Learning Outcomes Project GOAL: Self-Directed Learner Process Used by Advising Affinity Group: First: We determined that we needed to focus on our CORE MISSION: Advising Students. (Most offices have more than one function). Second: We selected STRATEGIES that would fit all offices both large and small, urban and rural, etc. Third: We eliminated what could not be MEASURED or what was not APPLICABLE TO ALL. Fourth: We set the “bar” at an APPROPRIATE LEVEL. Fifth: We took a hard look at ADVISOR TRAINING NEEDS and decided to provide some training on advising the self-directed learner. League for Innovation: Learning Summit

14. Maryland Community College Advising Affinity Group Matrix for Learning Outcomes Project GOAL: Self-Directed Learner • Deans’ Definition of a Self-Directed Learner: Takes Responsibility for Learning • The student will: • Define a need or problem and employ effective decision-making to resolve it • Plan ahead/set goals • Acquire knowledge • Use available resources • Seek assistance from appropriate people/experts • Apply critical analysis to consider options, and • Evaluate decisions League for Innovation: Learning Summit

15. League for Innovation: Learning Summit

16. League for Innovation: Learning Summit

17. League for Innovation: Learning Summit

18. Contact Information for Presenters • Cindy Peterka, Community College of Baltimore County, Essex Campus, cpeterka@ccbcmd.edu, 410-780-6506 • Lenny Mancini, Anne Arundel Community College, ljmancini@aacc.edu, 410-777-2830 • Rich Haney, Frederick Community College, rhaney@frederick.edu, 301-846-2479 • Deborah Cruise, Harford Community College, dcruise@harford.edu, 410-836-4233 • Jill Barr, Anne Arundel Community College, kjbarr@aacc.edu League for Innovation: Learning Summit