Assessment

Assessment

In line with our mission and vision, Phoenix College is committed to student-centered learning. Assessment of student learning is an integral part of our commitment to the Learning College philosophy. Assessment is a process beginning with clearly identified student learning outcomes, collecting data on student learning, and interpreting the information for the purpose of continuous improvement.

The PC Assessment Committee, comprised of faculty, staff, and administrators, is charged with supporting the development and assessment of general education, institutional, program, and content-specific student learning outcomes in curricular and co-curricular contexts. Committee activities align with and support our Strategic Plan and Guided Pathways Fields of Interest.

Campus Assessment Portal (CAP)

Entering assessment data into the campus portal is a key way to gather evidence of student learning. You can find instructions for using CAP in two ways:

  1. Self-enroll in the “PC Assessment” Canvas course
  2. Download the CAP User Guide

Assessment Data

Assessment data is summarized in aggregate and allows PC to have a campus snapshot of where our students are in terms of our institutional learning outcomes. The data can answer questions such as:

  1. Which ILOs are regularly assessed by faculty (and which are not)?
  2. On which general education outcomes do our students show strengths or weaknesses?
  3. How do students in 100-level courses compare with students in 200-level courses?

The information gained from this overview can be used to inform campus decision-making, professional development offerings, budgetary considerations, and the improvement of our educational practices. Assessment data is not an evaluation of an individual faculty or staff member.

Who Should Assess Student Learning?

Individual Instructors:

Institutional Level Portal

Twice per year - due on the last day of the fall and spring semester

  • Phoenix College seeks to guide students in developing a range of practical knowledge, competencies, and skills needed for success in their personal, academic and professional lives. Specifically, PC has identified the following five general education or institutional learning outcomes for our students:
    • Specialized Knowledge
    • Broad and Integrative Knowledge
    • Intellectual Skills
    • Applied and Collaborative Learning
    • Civic and Global Learning

Department Chairs and Program Directors:

Department/Area Level Portal

Once per year - due June 30th

  • Departments or areas conduct their own assessment practices dependent on the learning outcomes in their discipline. Each year department chairs, program directors, and co-curricular area heads are required to complete the Annual Assessment Report Form. If you are in charge of several disciplines or programs you may fill out this form for each separately, or you may use one form and include information for multiple programs/disciplines.