Assessment is the
"gathering, interpreting, and acting on information to improve student learning."
MCC Mission Statement
Preparing Students, Serving Communities, and Creating Opportunities for all
MCC Vision Statement
MCC will be the Kansas City region’s college of choice where
all are encouraged to learn, discover and engage.
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 Higher Learning Commission defines assessment of student learning (October 2006) in the following way: "Assessment of student learning is a participatory, iterative process that: ... Engages you and others in analyzing and using this data/information to confirm and improve teaching and learning. Additionally, HLC's criterion requirements for accreditation further describes the responsibilities of the institution regarding the assessment of student learning"
Criterion Four. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement. The institution demonstrates a commitment to educational achievement and improvement through ongoing assessment of student learning. Furthermore, assessment programming of the institution should:
- State goals for student learning and effective processes for assessment of student learning and achievement of learning goals.
- Assess achievement of the learning outcomes that it claims for its curricular and co-curricular programs.
- Use the information gained from assessment to improve student learning.
- Use processes and methodologies to assess student learning that reflect good practice, including the substantial participation of faculty and other instructional staff members