Assessment at Wilbur Wright College

Matthew Fitzpatrick

Assessment Committee Chair

An essential component of Wilbur Wright College’s effort to improve student learning.

ASSESSMENT AT WILBUR WRIGHT COLLEGE 

In accordance with the City Colleges of Chicago Academic Assessment Policy, Wilbur Wright College’s program of assessment is a faculty-led enterprise, dedicated to continuous improvement by developing systematic and ongoing processes to collect aggregate data about what students will know and can do based on measurable student learning outcomes.  

ASSESSMENT VISION 

At Wright College, assessment of student learning is a collaborative, faculty-led process that supports our mission to provide culturally responsive, high-quality education for a diverse community of learners. Grounded in our commitment to student success and continuous improvement, we use assessment to illuminate how effectively the Wright College experience fosters learning, preparing our campus community for transfer, career advancement, and personal growth. Through data-informed reflection, we strive to create a learning environment where all students can thrive.  

Wright College conceptualizes the assessment of student learning as "measuring the degree to which students achieve student learning outcomes (SLOs) for the purpose of improving student learning.” The college performs assessment in curricular and co-curricular contexts. Curricular activities relate to the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college degree. Co-curricular activities relate to the experiential learning opportunities that contribute to gaining skills and abilities which complement the core competencies and/or outcomes established by the institution and its governing bodies (CAS, 2022, para. 23-24). 

Data and information resulting from the assessment process are used for continuous improvement across the college. This includes, but is not limited to, pedagogical changes, curriculum changes, course (re)design, Faculty Development Week/Day, and changes to co-curricular learning experiences. In addition, student services areas make changes to ensure experiences that complement the learning experience undergo continuous improvement processes via co-curricular assessment activities. In addition to campus continuous improvement efforts, results of assessment activities and documented changes (i.e., closing the loop) are used as evidence for accreditation purposes.  

ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK  

Wright College’s assessment program employs a multi-tiered framework to measure student learning at the course, co-curricular, program, and institutional levels. Faculty and staff members demonstrate the vertical connectivity of this framework by developing student learning outcomes (SLO) maps, illuminating the interconnectivity between college activities and the Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs). More on the framework can be found in the college’s Assessment Plan.  

Wright’s college-wide assessment activities are led by the Assessment of Student Learning Committee (ASLC). The ASLC membership is represented by full- and part-time faculty members from across the college. Some college administrators from across the college serve as ex-officio (non-voting) members. These leaders comprise the Assessment Steering Committee (ASC), a conglomerate of college administrators whose roles support the successful completion of college-wide assessment activities.

ASSESSMENT GOVERNANCE 

Wright College maintains an assessment culture that supports faculty and staff members at the college. Assessment activities are ongoing and continuous. The college’s assessment activities are maintained by the following committees: The Assessment of Student Learning Committee (ASLC), which reflects the college’s faculty-led enterprise, and the Co-Curricular Assessment Committee (CCAC) which reflects the college’s student services-related assessment efforts. Both committees are supported by the Assessment Steering Committee, comprised of college leaders and assessment committee leadership teams. Collectively, Wright College’s governance structure works collaboratively to ensure assessment practices are representative of the mission and values of the college, while adhering to accreditation standards (i.e., Higher Learning Commission, specialized accreditors). 

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING COMMITTEE 

The assessment committee facilitates and supports projects pertaining to the assessment of student learning, documents and catalogues this work, and disseminates information about this work and its accomplishments across the college. ASLC documents and catalogues this work and disseminates information about this work and its accomplishments across the college. College-wide assessment of all levels of learning outcomes is managed by the Assessment of Student Learning Committee (ASLC).  ASLC comprises both full- and part-time faculty members representing academic departments. The ASLC is led by the following faculty members: 

  • Matthew Fitzpatrick, Chair, Mathematics Department 
  • Krzysztof Ochwat, Data Analysis Subcommittee Chair, Physical Sciences Department
  • Matthew Fitzpatrick, Working Group Subcommittee Chair, Mathematics Department
  • Monika Moore, Secretary, Social & Psych Sciences Department

CO-CURRICULAR ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE  

By continuous assessment of programs, services, and activities (PSAs), the Cocurricular Assessment Committee ensures that Wright College’s cocurricular experiences hold empirically verified value to student learning, development, and success. Comprised of leaders across student services, enrollment management, and academic departments, CCAC utilizes assessment to inform decision-making, continuous improvement of student services and student learning outcomes, demonstrating accountability to both internal and external key role players. The CCAC is led by the following staff and admin leaders: 

  • Melissa Matheny, Chair, Financial Aid Department 
  • Eliezer Hernandez, Co-Chair, Financial Aid Department
  • Loreta Kij, Data Analysis/Working Group Subcommittee Chair, Data Strategist
  • Vacant, Professional Development Subcommittee Chair 
  • Tremel Moody, Secretary, Associate Dean of Enrollment Management

ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE  

The Assessment Steering Committee provides strategic oversight and guidance for the institution’s assessment processes. Comprising senior campus leaders and ASLC committee faculty leadership, the committee’s work ensures the necessary supports are provided to all who facilitate assessment activities across the college. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring alignment between assessment activities and the college’s assessment plan, adhering to institutional priorities, meeting accreditation standards, and providing support of fostering a culture of continuous improvement in student learning at the College.    

ASSESSMENT TIMELINE 

At Wright College, assessment activities occur at regular intervals and employs a 5-year cycle to attend to the college’s Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs). The College measures 1 Institutional Learning Outcome per academic year as a component of this 5-year cycle. To ensure successful completion of all activities, and adhering to the college-wide assessment plan, the assessment cycle below guides the associated activities for effective assessment on the following timeline(s):

Adhering to the plan’s listed timelines, the assessment cycle below guides the associated activities for assessment annually: