MAPS: Redesigned SLO Assessment

General Description

The College of the Marshall Islands’ redesigned SLO Assessment Cycle seeks to move the college through proficiency in outcomes assessment to sustainable, continuous quality improvement by creating space for widespread institutional dialogue, using and producing comprehensive assessment reports, and ensuring that assessment results are used for institutional improvement.

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges Standards most relevant to the SLO assessment cycle are: I.B.1, I.B.4, I.B.5, I.B.8, I.C.3, II.A.3

The MAPS Process

Starting in Fall 2019, SLO Assessment at CMI will follow the MAPS process:

  • Make a plan:
    • Faculty work with their department chairs to select an SLO to assess for the cycle by February 2nd (Spring) or September 1st (Fall). Any SLOs that have yet to be assessed should be prioritized. SLOs to be assessed may also have been determined by a program review data collection plan.
    • Faculty develop an authentic assessment tool, enter the tool and benchmark in Nuventive Improve, and assign the assessment tool to themselves by March 1st (Spring) or October 1st (Fall). For courses with multiple sections, faculty are encouraged to collaborate and develop shared assessment tools.
    • Chairs provide written feedback on the assessment tools in Nuventive Improve using an IEC-approved template approved by IEC by March 15th (Spring) or October 15th (Fall).
    • Assessment tools are discussed at a department meeting in April (Spring) or November (Fall).
    • An assessment tool report for each department is sent to the Dean. The Dean approves the report and presents the assessment tool reports to IEC for formal acceptance by May 1st (Spring) or December 1st (Fall).
  • Amass data:
    • During the semester following approval of the plan, faculty use the assessment tool as planned, gather the data, and enter it in Nuventive Improve by March 15th (Spring) or October 15th (Fall). Department Chairs should verify that this step has been completed.
  • Process data:
    • Faculty enter analysis of data and future actions in Nuventive Improve by April 1st (Spring) or November 1st (Fall).
    • Chair provides written feedback on completed assessment using an IEC-approved template in Nuventive Improved approved by IEC by April 15th (Spring) or November 15th (Fall).
    • Completed assessments are discussed at a department meeting in May (Spring) or December (Fall).
  • Share results:
    • A four-column report for each department is sent to the Dean, who presents it to IEC by August 30th (Spring) or January 31st (Fall) for formal acceptance.
    • Each department publishes its four-column report on its webpage immediately following formal acceptance.
    • The Dean and Chairs, in collaboration with the Assessment Coach, identify particularly innovative and successful pedagogical innovations as well as assessment champions, and arrange for the faculty responsible to present their work at in-service, symposium, or another appropriate venue.
    • The Dean and Chairs, in collaboration with the Assessment Coach, identify faculty in need of additional training and develop a coaching plan.
    • Faculty and the Curriculum Committee carry out any changes called for in curriculum.
    • IEC discusses overall themes and how the SLO assessments impact institutional planning. IEC also reviews meta-assessments and identifies any gaps.

The MAPS process ordinarily takes three semesters to complete, with phases A and P happening in the same semester and phase S overlapping with the M of the next cycle.