Office of Curriculum & Assessment

Institutional Assessment Using Core Abilities

What does it mean to do institutional level assessment?

Institutional Assessment at Schoolcraft College has been established through the identification of the eight Core Abilities. The process of Institutional Assessment seeks to measure the level of student performance as related to each of the Core Abilities and explores ways in which the performance can be improved. This is the broadest level of assessment as required by the Higher Learning Commission for continued accreditation.

Timeline of Establishing Institutional Assessment at Schoolcraft College

Core Ability – (Institutional Assessment)

Core Abilities are broad outcomes or skills that every graduate of a Schoolcraft College associate degree is expected to achieve. These skills are important in every area of learning and are the skills employers and other stakeholders indicate are essential. Schoolcraft College requires candidates for all associate degrees to demonstrate competency in the following Core Abilities:

• Communicate effectively
• Think creatively and critically
• Use technology effectively
• Use mathematics
• Manage information
• Work cooperatively
• Act responsibly
• Demonstrate social and cultural awareness

At least one of the Core Abilities is addressed and assessed in every course. The associate degree programs outlined in the catalog will have all eight Core Ability expectations integrated into the overall program design.

Assessment Resources for Faculty

• Artifact Coversheet Form
• Artifact Identification presentation
• Core Ability Artifact Selection Process handout
• Core Ability Artifact Selection presentation
• Core Ability Assessment Faculty Workbook
• Institutional Assessment Update - Professional Development Presentation, Aug. 31, 2010
• Core Ability Assessment Team Leaders
• Core Ability Assessment Job Aid

Core Ability Rubrics

Rubrics are tools that can be used to assess a level of skill or performance based on a specific set of criteria. Using rubrics helps those conducting assessments to clearly define whether or not the performance indicators have been met. The rubrics listed below have been created by faculty members to aid in the assessment of the eight Core Abilities.

Core Ability Indicator Updates

The Faculty Core Ability Team Leaders have worked during the academic year 2010-2011 to functionalize the rubrics for the Core Abilities. While there was sensitivity to maintaining the intent of the indicators that were developed in 2007, some of the indicators have been modified. These documents state the rationale for the changes made by the faculty leaders.

Rubrics Communicate Effectively Think Creatively and Critically Use Technology Effectively Use Mathematics Manage Information Work Cooperatively Act Responsibly Demonstrate Social and Cultural Awareness

Core Ability Indicator Updates Communicate Effectively Think Creatively and Critically Use Technology Effectively Use Mathematics Manage Information Work Cooperatively Act Responsibly Demonstrate Social and Cultural Awareness

Core Abilities by Course

• Communicate Effectively
• Think Creatively and Critically
• Use Technology
• Use Mathematics
• Manage Information
• Act Responsibly
• Work Cooperatively
• Demonstrate Social Awareness