MiraCosta College is committed to an equitable and transparent process in the creation and development of learning outcomes and in the assessment of learning outcomes. The MiraCosta Mission statement, and Institutional Goal #1, address equity in a manner that directly involves assessment:
MiraCosta College fosters the academic and holistic success of its diverse learners within a caring and equitable environment to strengthen the educational, economic, cultural, and social well-being of the communities it serves.
MiraCosta College achieves this mission through innovative teaching, learning, and support services, and by offering degree, certificate, career education, adult education, transfer, and life-long learning opportunities.
Mission Statement
To facilitate meaningful dialogue and assessment practices which support the ongoing improvement of student learning and institutional effectiveness. To provide planning, support, facilitation, communication, and leadership that will promote the achievement of college goals pertaining to outcomes assessment.
Responsibilities
- To support and help facilitate meaningful assessment and reporting at the institutional level
- To encourage assessment practices that are sustainable, and to support their integration into institutional systems, planning, and decision-making
- To support and encourage the implementation of effective practices
- To support ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements, and the appropriate documentation of evidence
- To help facilitate and provide input into the evaluation of assessment across the institution, and make recommendations in support of continuous improvement
Student Learning is a significant part of the mission of MiraCosta College. Our goal is to facilitate meaningful dialogue and assessment practices which support the ongoing improvement of student learning and institutional effectiveness. The Outcomes Assessment Committee (OAC) guides faculty, staff, and administrators in the development and assessment of Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) that are student-centered, evidence-based, and is led by faculty and student services professionals. The OAC also works in collaboration with the Offices of Instruction, and Research, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness. MiraCosta College is committed to following the best practices of design and implementation of outcomes and assessment. This approach ensures an equity focused process that improves and maximizes student learning across our campus.
Institutional Goals Related to Outcomes
Goal I. MiraCosta College will provide equitable access, enhance student success, and close
equity gaps by deploying strategies that meet students where they are, create community,
and dismantle systems of inequity.
An intentional focus on equity in the outcomes and assessment process will foster
confidence in students to succeed and increase retention of students, especially those
students in disproportionately impacted and minoritized populations. The National
Institute of Learning Outcomes and Assessment (NILOA) provides clear guidelines on effective ways to infuse equity in all areas of the
assessment process:
- Check biases and ask reflective questions throughout the learning process to address assumptions and positions of privilege.
- Use multiple sources of evidence appropriate for the students being assessed and the assessment effort.
- Include student perspectives and take action based on perspectives.
- Increase transparency in assessment results and actions taken.
- Ensure collected data can be meaningfully disaggregated and interrogated.
- Make evidence -based changes that address issues of equity that are context-specific.
Composition
Nine faculty appointed by the Academic Senate, ideally to include five faculty (one of whom should be an associate) who represent general education, two faculty members from Career Education, and one faculty member from each of the following: counseling and noncredit. Committee membership also includes four administrators representing all divisions and a variety of employee groups (includes co-chair), four classified staff appointed by the Classified Senate, and one student appointed by the Associate Student Government. The faculty director of Online Education, the articulation officer, and the dean of Research, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness will serve as resources.
Terms: All members (except student member) serve two year terms; terms are renewable twice.
Co-Chairs: One administrator and one faculty; faculty term is three years, non-renewable. No term limit for administrator co-chair. Co-chairs are included in the identified composition.
Meeting Schedule: First Tuesday of each month, 3:30pm - 5pm, virtually, via Zoom, and sub-committee meetings on the third Tuesday of each month, 3:30pm – 5:00 pm, virtually, via Zoom.
Committee Members – Fall 2023
- Erica Duran - Faculty, AHSDP English
- Sean Fanning - Faculty, Theater (Design)
- Jonathan Fohrman - Dean, Arts & Int'l Languages, Administrative
- Laura Gomez-Carlsson - Associate Faculty - Spanish
- Mary Beth Headlee - Faculty - Mathematics
- Bridget Herrin - Interim Dean, Student Services
- Nadia Khan - Instructional Designer - Office of Instruction
- Denée Pescarmona - Vice President, Instructional Services
- Alison Phinney - Faculty - Nursing/Allied Health
- Kristi Reyes - Faculty, Noncredit ESL
- Chris Tarman - Dean, Research, Planning & Institutional Effectiveness, Co-Chair
- John Thomford - Faculty - Biology, Co-Chair
- Catherine Walker - Faculty, Computer Science
- Jinhui Wang - Student Representative
- Janelle West - Faculty - Biology, Co-Chair
Resource Members
- Joanne Benschop - Articulation Officer, SLO Coordinator
- Jim Julius - Faculty Director Online Education
Meeting Agendas & Minutes
Fall 2023
- September 5, 2023 Agenda | September 5, 2023 Minutes
- October 3, 2023 Agenda | October 3, 2023 Minutes
- November 7, 2023 Agenda | November 7, 2023 Minutes
- December 5, 2023 Agenda | December 5, 2023 Minutes
Spring 2024
- February 6, 2024 Agenda | February 6, 2024 Minutes
- March 5, 2024 Agenda | March 5, 2024 Minutes
- April 2, 2024 Agenda | April 2, 2024 Minutes
- May 7, 2024 Agenda | May 7, 2024 Minutes