Section 1: Purpose of Assessment

The purpose of assessment is to gather information about the impact of curriculum, programs, and services provided by the college; the ultimate goal of assessment is to improve the curriculum, program, or service being assessed.

Assessment of curriculum, programs, and services, from the development of outcomes or objectives through the use of results, is the responsibility of those who provide the curriculum, program, or service.

1. The purpose of assessment is to determine the efficacy of curriculum, programs, and services in achieving stated outcomes, objectives, and goals.
2. Assessment should be conducted by those directly involved in the curriculum, program, or service with support from administration.

 All curriculum, educational and administrative programs, and support services should be assessed on a regular cycle using clear, public criteria and procedures.

Section 2: Expectations

The following points clarify the expectations regarding the participation of faculty, staff, and administrators in assessment activities as well as establish the guidelines for how the results of assessment activities will be used at WNC.

 Educational Program Assessment

1. The administration agrees to provide support to allow faculty to improve student learning through assessment. Support includes budget, training, and staffing to aid faculty in this endeavor.
2. The administration agrees that the purpose of assessment is to measure student performance rather than evaluate faculty.
3. The administration and faculty agree that the purpose of assessment is to improve student learning.

1. 1. Improvements in student learning can be accomplished in many ways, including changes to educational programs, courses, revision of criteria of success, or altering outcomes and mission statements.
   2. It is the responsibility of the faculty within the teaching area being assessed to determine the outcomes, establish criteria for success, and develop systematic ways to improve student learning based upon the results of an assessment.

4. It is the responsibility of faculty who teach in an area to use the results of assessment to improve the educational program for the area. Failure to develop and implement ways of improving the educational program using assessment results may be used in the evaluation of a faculty member unless it is clear that the reasonable support needed to make improvement was not available.

 Administrative and Support Services Assessment

1. If an administrative service or support program does not meet the criteria for success, the administration has an obligation to work with personnel in the program to provide reasonable support to allow the administrative service or support program to improve.
   1. Support can include budget, training, and staffing.
   2. If reasonable support is unavailable, the administration agrees not to hold individual personnel within the administrative service area or support program responsible for a failure to improve the service or program.
2.  The administration agrees to provide support for the improvement of administrative services and support programs deemed important to the college’s mission and goals. The purpose of assessment is to ascertain the success of the service or program and if the service or program is found to fall below the expected level of performance, this information will not be used in the evaluation of an individual or group connected with the service or program.

3. If an administrative service or support program does not meet the assessment criteria for success, the administration has an obligation to provide reasonable support to allow the service or program to improve. Support can include budget, training, and staffing. If reasonable support is unavailable, the administration agrees not to hold the individuals or unit responsible for a failure to improve the program.

4. It is the responsibility of those who provide the service or program to use the results of assessment to improve the service or program. Failure to develop and implement ways of improving the service or program using assessment results may be used in the evaluation of an individual, service, or program unless it is clear that the reasonable support needed to make improvements was not available.

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