This past February, the District Student Academic Achievement Assessment Committee (DSAAAC) submitted to the Governing Board a report on the progress of assessment efforts in the District. The report addresses the Board's goal for Student Competencies under University Transfer Education and General Education. In addition, the DSAAAC presented the assessment efforts at the February 13th Governing Board meeting, when the Board members were able to review progress with representatives from each college.
Members of the DSAAAC Committee
From L-R Rear: Ken Roberts (SMCC), Tom Trollen (SCC),
Georgia Gudykunst (DIST); Front: Jeanne Canham (CGCC, Chair),
Laura Helminski (RSC), and Maria Harper-Marinick (MCLI)
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The document includes ten separate college reports prepared by the student outcomes assessment committee from each college. The first section of each report is an executive summary of assessment efforts, methods, skills and abilities for academic year 1999-2000. The next section highlights one or two specific outcomes, based on the question: "What have you learned from these efforts, or how have you used the results of assessment to improve teaching and learning?" The last section of each report is a summary of recommendations for future continuous improvement.
All of the colleges reported active engagement in assessment of student competencies and use of results to improve teaching and learning. During the last year, the colleges demonstrated leadership in developing diverse efforts to assess students based upon each college's unique environments, student bodies, faculty, and staff. In addition, DSAAAC and the colleges propose to continue the dialogue about the following issues concerning assessment in future discussions:
- On-going assessment of student learning is a complex process of continual evaluation, analysis, re-evaluation and improvement.
- Development of valid and reliable methods and instruments is arduous and takes time as does collection and analysis of the data. Student participation in assessment activities at colleges throughout the District is one of our biggest challenges; new ways to motivate students and increase participation need to be explored and supported.
- There is increased demand for accountability from internal and external agencies and communities; colleges are trying to reach a balance to meet those demands while striving to improve teaching and learning.
- There is a cost associated with designing and conducting research, development, and implementation of assessment activities, including collection and analysis of data.
- As the District initiates its strategic planning efforts, on-going assessment of student learning should be considered as a planning element.
During the Board meeting, Governing Board members and others in attendance gave feedback about what was presented.
 Jeanne Canham, CGCC and
Maria Harper-Marinick, Ph.D., MCLI
www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/ae/
DSAAAC Committee Members
- Donna Benson, MCC
- Jeanne Canham, Chair, CGCC
- John Frasure, EMCC
- Jerome Garrison, SMCC
- Mark Gooding, MCC
- Andrea Greene, MCC
- Georgia Gudykunst, DIST
- Maria Harper-Marinick, MCLI
- Laura Helminski, RSC
- Kathleen Iudicello, EMCC
- Brent Jameson, PC
- Sue Kater, GWCC
- Pat Medeiros, SCC
- David Raffaelle, GCC
- Gail Snyder, EMCC
- Ken Roberts, SMCC
- Tom Trollen, SCC
- Rick Vaughn, PVCC
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