Curriculum and Program Review

Although some colleges have separate curriculum and program review processes, at LCC they are combined into one standardized instrument that all faculty are required to use, according to an established schedule. All faculty work on the same sections at the same time, on designated assessment days held each quarter. Please note that the curriculum approval process, which goes through the college's Curriculum Committee, is completely separate from assessment (although curriculum changes are typically noted in assessment reports).

Global Skills

We use this term to refer to general education outcomes, things that all students should gain while at LCC. The faculty at LCC have adopted four Global Skills: Communication, Critical Thinking, Quantitative Literacy, and Teamwork. Not to be confused with general education requirements for degrees, which pertain to distribution requirements. Faculty have primary responsibility for assessing Global Skills at LCC, which is done through an annual Summer Assessment Institute for academic transfer programs, and within each program for professional/technical areas.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

LCC has a set of Key Performance Indicators, or KPIs, that define effectiveness across the institution. We do have defined KPIs for program outcomes as well as Global Skills, in addition to a number of other institutional measurements. Those KPIs reflect the work occurring through the Curriculum and Program Review process and Global Skills assessment.

Mission Areas

LCC has deconstructed its mission statement into five areas that represent different aspects of college operations. Four of the five represent the student lifecycle, and the fifth represents the organization and community.

• Workforce and Economic Development
• Academic Transfer
• Preparation for College Level Studies
• Student Access, Support and Completion
• Institutional Excellence and Community Enrichment

Each Mission Area has a corresponding set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Administration has the primary responsibility for tracking our KPIs, but we do have many faculty participants on our related review teams. Monitoring our KPIs is primarily about compliance and overall institutional performance.

Monitoring Reports

LCC reports on its institutional outcomes (KPIs) in a series of Monitoring Reports that get presented to the LCC Board of Trustees throughout the year. Monitoring Reports are posted on the LCC website.

Monitoring Report Review Teams

Each of the Monitoring Reports has an assigned review team that analyzes data and participates in planning each year. LCC employees receive open invitations in the spring and fall to join a team. All are welcome.

Program

For purposes of Curriculum and Program Review at LCC, a program can either be a specific degree or certificate or an academic discipline. Since we don't have majors per se at LCC, academic transfer faculty are advised to select an important foundation course or series of courses to address through the review process. In disciplines where sequential courses are involved (such as math, English and the sciences), the sequences should be assessed.

Academic transfer faculty who are unsure about what to assess should consult with their dean, Instructional Assessment Committee representative, or department chair.

Rubric

A guide listing specific criteria for grading or scoring academic papers, projects, or tests.

Student Learning Outcomes

The knowledge, skills and/or abilities that a student should achieve within a defined educational experience, such as a course or program.