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2005 Update: Adopting College Wide Success Outcomes

November 15, 2005

I. Focus of Update: Augments the “Core Strategies” of the Academic Plan 2000 with the College Wide Success Outcomes developed since then (see Section III). The Academic Plan adopted in 2000 set the following key “strategies” for Instruction:
  • Maintain student FTE mix while achieving desirable growth
  • Enhance teaching and learning
  • Improve retention
  • Create a diverse academic community and reflect diversity in the curriculum
  • Strengthen assessment and accountability
II. Rationale for this update:

A. The last of these strategies (strengthening assessment and accountability) has led us to this Update. In order to be more outcome focused, we are now adopting Goals for Instruction which are more consistently:

  • Student centered.
  • Forward looking
  • Measurable
  • Fully integrated with the Vision set by the Board of Directors (These Outcomes were developed through broad campus discussion (2002-2004) in order to align the goals of all areas with Board of Director goals for the College).

B. Because the fiscal outlook is one of decreasing public funds for at least the next six years, planning for careful use of resource around clear goals is essential to our continued institutional viability. The College is committed to achieving its institutional mission and providing a quality and rewarding professional environment while achieving its institutional mission.

College Wide Success Outcomes, to augment “Core Strategies” of 2000 Plan:
  1.  Students will have the proficiency and learning skills necessary to secure or advance employment.
  2. Students will have the academic achievements and learning skills necessary to successfully pursue education at the baccalaureate level.
  3. Students will make satisfactory progress toward their educational goal(s).
  4. Students will strengthen their general skills and broad analytical capabilities in order to function competently in a global environment.
  5. Students will have the academic achievements and learning skills necessary to successfully pursue education at the community college level.
  6. Business and community groups will partner with COCC to achieve their …educational goals.
III. Strategic Directions to insure significant progress on the College Wide Success Outcomes over the next five years:

The “Strategic Indicators” (especially student success data) and other relevant data will be used to determine specific actions and to assess our progress in achieving these goals.

1. Students will have the proficiency and learning skills necessary to secure or advance employment.

a. Review programs (both the content of existing programs and the need for new programs) while assessing needs of students in light of the changing needs of local businesses and industries
b. Monitor staffing levels in programs to allow for stability and planning
c. Increase participation (enrollment and access) in Professional Technical Programs through activities such as developing marketing plans and outreach to K12.
d. Adopt career pathways approach (multiple points of entry and exit) to program development and articulation.
e. Invigorate advisory committees to provide ongoing input into the curriculum.

2. Students will have the academic achievements and learning skills necessary to successfully pursue education at the baccalaureate level or beyond.

a. Partner with regional school districts to achieve alignment of outcomes and broadened access to higher education in Central Oregon
b. Expand options for articulation with higher ed institutions
c. Articulate core outcomes for degrees and map the curriculum to determine sequencing and performance level for achieving these outcomes
d. Expand training and professional development opportunities for faculty to articulate course outcomes and assess student performance

3. Students will make satisfactory progress toward their educational goal(s). 

a. Improve access and retention by assessing sequencing of learning and flexibility of scheduling.
b. Revise HD Curriculum: Study Skills, Career Planning.
c. Implement assessment of course prerequisites.
d. Maintain support for students and availability of faculty as cornerstones of faculty evaluation process.

4. Students will strengthen their general skills and broad analytical capabilities in order to function competently in a global environment.

a. Assess impact of revisions to degree requirements: elimination of sequence requirement
b. Articulate and map core degree outcomes
c. Expand internship and service learning opportunities.

5. Students will have the academic achievements and learning skills necessary to successfully pursue education at community college level.

a. Assess impact of mandatory placement
b. Review entry level course outcomes and assess effectiveness of placement instrument
c. Develop outreach to K12 at risk students to reduce need for remediation.
d. Develop skill specific (“modular”) options for students
e. Assess entry skills and entry points in relation to curriculum map of Core Learning Outcomes.

6. Business and community groups will partner with COCC to achieve their (economic, cultural, and ) educational goals.

a. Revise Business Development and Training Plan to increase participation rates and increase presence of Workforce related classes in Continuing Education
b. Reintroduce Customized Training Classes
c. Establish clear identity as provider of customized training in Central Oregon
d. Revitalize advisory group membership and process for professional technical programs.

IV. Continued Academic Planning: while the adoption of the College Wide Success Outcomes as Student Learning Goals for the Academic Plan provides a clearer focus for our planning efforts, we need to continue and extend assessment and planning within programs and departments prior to a full rewrite of the Academic Plan. Full revision may be expected as a result of the Mid Range Planning Process. The process we are now adopting allows us to think of “Plan” as a verb rather than as a noun.