How Assessment works at one community college

This article was taken from the Chronicle of Higher Education, 5/29/2009, Vol. 55, Issue 38

I was most interested in the article because of the community college aspect. The article, written by Miami Dade College President Eduard J. Pardron, provided insight to how his college was working on meeting student learning goals. They created a top-10 list of what they wanted their students to learn. By assessing their students through a sit-down assessment process they are able to measure the results on a four-point rating scale.

I liked the fact that these results are compared each year. According to President Padron, Miami Dade College is able to improve in the areas that are suggested to have greater emphasis of need. An area that surprised me, as well as those at Miami Dade College, was that their recent study indicated they needed improvement in the global-perspectives goal. Miami Dade College has one of the most diverse student population in the nation. This indicates that even though a College may have a diverse student body, i.e. United Tribes Technical College, it should not be taken for granted that this is an area that would not need improvement.

To me, this article reiterates that even at a Community College level it is important to have ongoing assessment of all programs at the college and implement those changes for faculty and student improvement. In the end it is all about meeting the needs of the students and providing the best tools possible to them.