The assessment of general education at Palo Alto College is an institutionalized and ongoing process, incorporating several distinct procedures. Direct assessment includes the assessment of the THECB's general education competencies in addition to indirect assessment such as: unit planning, program review, administration of the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSEE), and high risk course identification with accompanying action plans.
In anticipation of revised THECB Core Curriculum Competencies, Palo Alto College adopted six Institutional General Education Competencies: communication skills, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, social responsibility, and personal responsibility.
During Summer 2010, a Palo Alto College team of department chairs and deans designed a direct evidence, on-going process for assessing the six General Education Competencies. This group examined best practice models and reviewed the current literature on assessing general education student learning outcomes as they crafted the Palo Alto College process. This team of faculty leaders developed student learning outcomes, common rubrics, and assessment data forms as well as the logistics of the assessment process. Faculty brainstormed assignment ideas for each of the competencies at a workshop during Convocation Week, and designed and implemented core competency learning opportunities for students in courses. Faculty assessed the student learning outcomes using the assessment plan rubrics. Results of the assessments were shared with the faculty at Convocation Spring 2011 and improvement plans were generated. Based on the Fall 2010 experience and feedback, the general education assessment of student learning outcomes process was modified and the remaining three competencies are being assessed Spring 2011: Critical Thinking, Empirical and Quantitative Skills, and Personal Responsibility. Palo Alto College uses an assessment calendar available under additional supporting files to indicate which two competencies will be assessed for the academic year.
Student Artifact Request for Critical Thinking Skills Rubric
Student Artifact Request for Empirical and Quantitative Skills Rubric
Faculty Assessor Guidelines 2012-2013
Cliff Notes for Curriculum Maps
Cliff Notes for Gen Ed Assessment
Cliff Notes for Key Assignments
Cliff Notes for Program Assessment
CLA Fall 2010 Report Palo Alto College
Fall 2010 Assessment Summary Report
CCLA 2011 Report Palo Alto College
Spring 2011 Assessment Summary Report
Fall 2011 Assessment Summary Report
Student Artifact Key Assignment Cover Sheet 2012-2013
THECB General Education Content Area Mapping
Embedded Assignment Ideas File
Effective Fall 2014 CCSSE Survey Question Crosswalk to Core Objectives
Faculty Assessor Scoring Methodology
Indirect Assessment Measure Methodology
Outline of PAC Gen Ed Assessment
General Education Assessment Deployment Process Flow Chart
Communication Key Assignment Planning Template
Teamwork Key Assignment Planning