What is student learning outcomes assessment (SLOA)?

Outcomes assessment is the process of gathering and discussing student work in order to develop a deeper understanding of what students learn and can do with their knowledge as a result of their educational experiences.The process culminates when assessment results are used to improve teaching and learning.

Why are we doing assessment?

Working with each other to understand how our students learn will allow us to offer the best opportunities we can for our students. It also promotes faculty discussions on how we teach, which allows us to support and learn from one another.

In order to be in compliance with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities’ (NWCCU) Accreditation Standards, we need to have an effective assessment plan: to begin to assess campus-wide and encourage the participation of all faculty in gaining a collective understanding of student learning.

How does it fit into our mission statement and goals?

Student learning outcomes assessment is directly related to the goal of effective teaching and learning, which will increase student success. Assessment fits into the Bellevue College’s mission to remain student-centered.

What are our guiding principles?

Outcomes assessment is…

Faculty-centered so that all faculty are involved and accountable.

Discipline-centered so that outcomes assessment makes sense to various approaches to pedagogical frameworks.

Flexible so that it fits the needs of faculty and serves students to reinforce effective teaching and learning.

Transparent so that the expectations of academic standards and learning outcomes are unambiguous. The process and results of assessing student learning are evident to all faculty at the institution and to external agencies and the community.

Faculty Assessment Coordinating Team (FACT)

The Faculty Assessment Coordinating Team is composed of faculty liaisons from each organizational unit. Several administrators also serve as permanent members of the committee. The team exists to support assessment on campus and to gather resources and disseminate best practices on student outcomes assessment to faculty on campus. Learn more about us.

Please contact your FACT representative or FACT chair if you have questions.