General Information

Joyce Ray, Outcomes Assessment Coordinator
2500 Carlyle Avenue • Belleville, IL. 62221-5899
Phone 800-222-5131, ext. 5423 • (618) 235-2700, ext. 5423 • Fax (618) 235-1578

Outcomes Assessment is an ongoing process aimed at measuring and improving student learning. It involves making our expectations explicit and public; setting appropriate criteria and high standards for learning quality; systematically gathering, analyzing and interpreting evidence to determine how well performance matches those expectations and standards and using the resulting information to document, explain, and improve performance. Assessment helps us create a shared academic culture dedicated to assuring and improving the quality of higher education.

Southwestern Illinois College Mission Statement

Southwestern Illinois College upholds the dignity and worth of all people and believes that learning is a lifelong process which enhances the quality of life. The college provides for individual growth through educational excellence and active partnerships with students and the community.

The OA Steering Committee Mission Statement

The OA steering committee is responsible for the oversight and evaluation of the efforts of the General Education and Disciplines Outcomes Assessment Committees and the Outcomes Assessment Coordinator. The committee will also oversee any AQIP Action Project related to outcomes assessment and the improvement of student learning. The committee will report to the College and the Board of Trustees regarding its findings and make recommendations to improve student learning related to outcomes assessment.

Mission of the Disciplines Outcomes Assessment Committee

The purpose of the Disciplines Outcomes Assessment Committee is to improve and support student learning:

• By assisting faculty in articulating mission and goals for each academic discipline
• By assisting faculty in developing methods to gain feedback on the discipline's progress in meeting those goals
• By assisting faculty in using feedback to modify the course and/or program to ensure that the goals are being met

Mission of the General Education Outcomes Assessment Committee

The General Education Outcomes Assessment Committee is entrusted with the responsibility of implementing principles and an agenda that will assist Southwestern Illinois College faculty in further development and use of tools and procedures that will be used to assess student learning. The General Education "common competencies" for all degree graduates to be assessed are: writing, reading, computer literacy, problem solving, oral communication and civic/social awareness. In addition, the committee will identify and facilitate the allocation of college resources to support faculty outcomes assessment efforts.

Assessment Statement Regarding Data Collection

Raw data collected for the purpose of Outcomes Assessment within the department or program will be stored within the department or program area. If any clarification is required, the department chairperson or program coordinator will provide the necessary documentation. Only the compiled and interpreted data collected will be shared with the entire college community.

Raw data collected for the purpose of Outcomes Assessment of general education learning outcomes will be stored within the Institutional Research Office. Any identifying marks on the samples used will be removed. Any unused data will be destroyed.