It is not enough to state what is expected that students will know or be able to do by the end of their time in a course or program; the next step is assessment – that is to determine if students are gaining skills or knowledge as a result of participating in a class or college program.

The purpose of assessment is to use results as a starting point for meaningful dialogue about the next steps in planning and improvement in order to maximize student success. Please note that discussions arising from assessment results are not evaluations of individual faculty members, rather the focus is on student achievements and needs.