Assessment

Assessment is the
"gathering, interpreting, and acting on information to improve student learning."

MCC's assessment philosophy

At MCC, assessment is seen as an integral part of its continuous improvement initiative where assessment data contributes to successful decision-making with the purpose of stimulating student academic growth and informing curriculum revision. MCC has a moral and professional obligation to ensure it answers three basic and fundamental questions about student learning:

• What are students expected to know?
• How do we know they know?
• How do we use assessment results to improve teaching and learning?

Ultimately, assessment at MCC is an activity that exists to promote the improvement of student learning and serves as an important and meaningful catalyst for change.

Student Assessment as defined by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

The Criteria for Accreditation convey the standards of quality by which HLC determines whether an institution merits accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation. In June 2024, HLC’s Board of Trustees adopted revisions to the Criteria, Assumed Practices and Evaluative Framework for the Criteria that go into effect September 1, 2025.

The Higher Learning Commission defines assessment of student learning (Assumed Practices, Sept 2025) in the following way: For student learning, a commitment to assessment means assessment at the program level that proceeds from clear goals, involves faculty during the process, and analyzes the assessment results; it also means that the institution improves its programs or ancillary services or other operations on the basis of those analyses as appropriate. Institutions committed to improvement review their programs regularly and seek external judgment, advice or benchmarks in their assessments.

Criterion 3.E. Assessment of Student Learning

The institution improves the quality of educational programs based on its assessment of student learning.