A Statement on Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Program Student Learning Outcomes follow each program description in the following pages. SLOs intentionally describe the 3-5 central goals that students will have attained by the end of the program. In essence, SLOs encapsulate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students are expected to learn from their respective programs. The focus is on what students can do with what they have learned and this outcome should be evaluated in some way. Primarily, three questions essentially frame the articulation of SLOs:

1. What do students know? (cognitive domain)
2. What do they think and value? (affective domain)
3. What can they do? (behavioral domain)

In this catalog, program SLOs describe the broadest goals for the program, particularly those that require higher-level thinking. They, therefore, require students to synthesize many discrete skills or areas of content. SLOs also ask students to produce artifacts such as term papers, projects, portfolios, demonstrations, exams or other student work. Most importantly, SLOs also need to be evaluated or assessed in some way so that accountability and improvement remain the hallmarks of a good program. A separate SLO Booklet is published and updated regularly to guide faculty in helping students achieve articulated course outcomes.

The College, in close collaboration with faculty and members of Advisory committees, continues to embark on an ongoing institutional effort to revise and update all its curriculum documents so that they remain responsive to industry and community needs.
 

SLO Mapping - ILO, PROGRAM, AND COURSE LEVELS

SLOs also align with collective program and institution level expectations for student learning translated into the curriculum and co-curriculum. Most importantly, these SLOs map to the curriculum, co-curriculum and other educational practices that provide students multiple opportunities for meaningful learning. SLO maps developed for three (3) different levels – ILOs, program, and course -- reflect the desired goals of learning experiences that the College continues to intentionally develop, structure, deliver, and evaluate on an ongoing basis.