Definition:

Assessment is the process of gathering information/data on student learning and services for
the purposes of evaluating and improving the learning environment.

Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to establish that assessment is the responsibility of everyone
employed by Hawai‘i Community College. The College engages in systematic assessment of
learning and service outcomes to ensure continuous improvement and to create increased
opportunities for student success. Oversight for assessment of specific levels of learning and
service outcomes belongs to appropriate organizational units within the college as defined
herein.

The Institutional Assessment Coordinator reports to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs,
manages the Institutional Assessment Office, and leads the College‘s efforts to institutionalize
assessment activities, including development and maintenance of the College’s Assessment
website, assessment report archives and resources, and assessment management systems and
databases.

Assessment resources and information are available to faculty, staff and the public at:
http://hawaii.hawaii.edu/files/assessment/

Assessment also is an integral component of the College’s Program and Unit Review Process. In
addition to course and program assessment reports submitted to the College via the Assessment
website’s archive and databases, instructional programs are responsible to report and evaluate
assessments of program learning outcomes in annual and comprehensive program reviews. Non-
instructional service and support units are responsible to report and evaluate assessments of unit
outcomes in unit reviews.

The following UH System policies govern program review:

• Review of Established Programs: UHCCP #5.202 (October
  2005) http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/cc/docs/policies/5.202.pdf
• Review of Established Programs: Board of Regents Policy, Section
  5.201 http://www.hawaii.edu/policy/docs/temp/rp5.201.pdf
• Review of Established Programs: University of Hawai‘i Systemwide Executive Policy, E5.202,
  https://www.hawaii.edu/policy/index.phpaction=viewPolicy&policySection=ep&policyChapter=5&policyNumber=202&menuView=closed

In addition, standards and criteria from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), as well as accrediting bodies providing oversight for career and technical education programs,
serve as the overall guidelines within which the college establishes and revises its assessment
activities.

Responsibilities:

Outcomes:

1. Because the primary responsibility for curriculum rests with the faculty, the development,
   revision and assessment of course learning outcomes, including alignment of such outcomes with program learning outcomes and institutional learning outcomes, belong with the discipline faculty, with the ultimate responsibility resting with the department chairs and/or division chairs. Discipline faculty coordinate lecturers’ involvement in assessing outcomes as appropriate.
2. The development, revision and assessment of program learning outcomes, including
   alignment with course and institutional learning outcomes, belong with program faculty and
   staff.
3. The development, revision and assessment of non-instructional service and support unit
   outcomes, including alignment with institutional learning outcomes, belong with unit faculty
   and staff. Non-instructional units in the college include units in the Divisions of Academic
   Support, Administrative Services, and Student Affairs, the EDvance Office of Continuing
   Education and Training, Hawaiʻi Community College at Pālamanui support and student
   services, and the Kō Education Center.
4. The development and revision of general education learning outcomes belong with the
   Academic Senate. Assessment of general education learning outcomes belongs with program faculty. Alignment of general education learning outcomes with institutional learning outcomes belongs with the Academic Senate. Alignment of general education learning outcomes with program learning outcomes belongs with program faculty.
5. The development, revision and assessment of institutional learning outcomes belong with
   the College Council.

The Assessment Process:

The college's assessment process assists faculty and staff in their efforts to improve teaching and
services in order to improve student learning and achievement. Course, program, and unit assessment practices are intended to focus on assessing course, program, unit and institutional outcomes as appropriate.

1. A full course assessment cycle includes an initial assessment of students’ achievements in
   meeting Course and aligned Program Learning Outcomes, and a follow-up assessment after
   the implementation of an action plan for improvement based on the results of the initial
   assessment.
2. Course assessment reports are submitted via the College’s digital assessment management
   system.
3. Course assessments are scheduled annually by Department Chairs in consultation with appropriate course faculty.
4. The General Education Committee of the College’s Academic Senate also may require course assessments be conducted for courses seeking new or renewed designation as General Education courses.
5. Course assessment schedules must be approved by the appropriate academic Dean.
6. The Institutional Assessment Coordinator and Deans will review all instructional assessment schedules annually with the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
7. When academic Departments and Programs schedule courses for assessment, they should consider, at minimum, the following criteria:
1. Strengthening academic offerings to students.
2. Courses that are highly enrolled.
3. Courses that are of core importance either as introductory or capstone courses for majors in scaffolded program graduation requirements.
4. Courses that have recently gone through changes in curriculum, instructional methodology, modality, or instructional design (e.g., new textbook, teaching strategy, evaluation strategy, etc.).
5. Courses taught by newly-hired faculty or lecturers.
   5. Non-instructional service and support unit assessments are scheduled annually by Unit
   Directors. The unit assessment cycle includes the submission by unit faculty and staff of
   assessment reports as regular components of the annual and/or comprehensive unit review
   process.
   6. Unit assessment schedules must be approved by the appropriate Vice Chancellor or
   Director.
8. Non-instructional service and support unit assessments are scheduled annually by Unit
   Directors. The unit assessment cycle includes the submission by unit faculty and staff of
   assessment reports as regular components of the annual and/or comprehensive unit review
   process.
9. Unit assessment schedules must be approved by the appropriate Vice Chancellor or
   Director.