Assessment of Student Learning at SWIC

“Excellence in education does not occur accidentally. . . it is the result of a pursuit that requires careful planning and implementation, and it cannot grow unattended”

Late Donald W. Farmer, Ph.D., Professor of History and Vice President for Academic Affairs, King’s College

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.

The college is committed to regular evaluation of our effectiveness and the assessment of student learning is an integral component of the educational experience at SWIC. To ensure that the needs of students and the community are met, the college conducts classroom-, program-, and college-wide studies of student attitudes, achievement, and satisfaction.

In addition, the college regularly assesses its educational programming and services. To conduct useful institutional analysis, all students who are randomly selected for these assessments are expected to participate. Assessment-related data are kept confidential for individual students and are released only in aggregate form. Full participation helps SWIC meet our core values of educational excellence and student success.

The assessment of student learning is an essential component to meet our college mission.

Southwestern Illinois College Mission Statement

The mission of Outcomes Assessment at Southwestern Illinois College is to ensure student learning. The college is dedicated to empowering students with the knowledge, skills and traits necessary for successful transfer to a four-year institution, employment in a chosen career, and/or personal/professional growth and development. To this end, the faculty continually assess student learning to improve student success.

Stephanie Klie, Outcomes Assessment Coordinator
2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville, IL 62221-5899
Stephanie.klie@swic.edu • Phone 618-235-2700, ext. 5423