Student Achievement
General Education
At NWACC, general education is defined in terms of eight learning outcomes. These outcomes describe the knowledge, skills, and perspectives expected of any associate degree graduate, whether the degree program is oriented for transfer or work. Faculty believe these eight areas help prepare students to be lifelong learners.
While some of the general education outcomes have courses associated with them, others do not. Faculty believe these outcomes should be taught across the curriculum. Students should expect to write outside of composition class, give oral presentations outside of speech class, and use algebra outside of math class. Using these skills repeatedly in a variety of settings helps students develop them most effectively.
The assessment committee evaluates how well NWACC students are achieving these outcomes. The committee uses student performance data to document student learning and suggest improvements. Click here to review NWACC student achievement of the general education outcomes.
The click on the links in the table below to learn how the committee measures student performance and its recent findings.
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Math |
Students achieve mathematical literacy |
Measures |
Recent Results |
CAAP exam
(national test taken during a student's last semester)
|
2004-2005 math scores are comparable to state and national averages (see trends graph) |
ACT-CAAP Linkage report |
ACT-CAAP linkage report compares entry skills (ACT test) to exit skills (CAAP exam). 92% of NWACC students show expected or greater than expected growth in math skills compared to only 88% of students nationally. |
Math Department Post-test Analysis |
Math Students earning a C or better averaged 42 out of 60 on common post-test questions. This meets the 70% correct performance expectation set by faculty |
AA/AS Graduate Survey |
97% of graduates responding rated the math preparation they received at NWACC either adequate or superior.
|
Go back to the top, back to the table, or see the formal math assessment plan
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Writing |
Students can write clear, coherent, well-organized documents, which are substantially free of errors. |
Measures |
Recent Results |
CAAP exam
(national test taken during a student's last semester)
|
2004-2005 writing scores are comparable to state and national averages (see trends graph) |
ACT-CAAP Linkage Report |
ACT-CAAP linkage report compares entry skills (ACT test) to exit skills (CAAP exam). 92% of NWACC students show expected or greater than expected growth in writing skills compared to 90% of students nationally |
English Composition Essay Analysis |
Students' early essays in Composition I averaged 2.3 Students' late essays had improved to 3.1. At the end of Composition II the average essay rating was 3.4
( Rating scale: 1= inadequate, 2=weak, 3=adequate, 4= competent, 5=superior, 6=exceptional)
Faculty expect students in Compostion II to be wrting at the adequate level |
AA/AS Graduate Survey |
98% of graduates responding rated the writing preparation they received at NWACC either adequate or superior. |
Go back to top, back to the table, or see the formal writing assessment plan
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Reading |
Students can read selections at the appropriate level of education and describe the main ideas and supporting details.
Students can evaluate written materials objectively |
Measures |
Recent Results |
CAAP Exam
(national test taken last semester)
|
Average Reading scores have been at least a point higher than national averages every year since 1996 (see trends graph) |
ACT-CAAP Linkage Report |
ACT-CAAP linkage report compares entry skills (ACT test) to exit skills (CAAP exam). 94% of NWACC students show expected or greater than expected growth in reading skills compared to 87% nationally. |
AA/AS Graduate Survey |
95% of graduates responding rated the reading preparation they received at NWACC either adequate or superior |
Go back to top, back to the table, or see the formal reading assessment plan
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Oral Communication |
Students develop effective oral communication skills. |
Measures |
Recent Results |
AA/AS Graduate Survey |
95% graduates responding rated the oral communication preparation they received at NWACC either adequate or superior |
Employer surveys |
100% of employers responding to allied health and nursing surveys indicated that NWACC graduates' oral communicatin skills were adequare or superior. |
Go back to top, back to the table, or see the formal oral communication assessment plan
Cultural Perspectives |
Students gain a greater awareness of cultural perspectives. |
Measures |
Recent Results |
Graduation Survey |
85% of graduates responding agreed or strongly agreed that their experience at NWACC had increased their awareness of cultural perspectives.
Twenty-five different courses, two college events, and forty-one individuals were cited by graduates as having a major influence on broadening their intercultural experience. |
Go back to top, back to the table, or see the formal Cultural Perspectives assessment plan
Higher Order Thinking Skills |
Students develop higher order thinking skills |
Measures |
Recent Results |
CAAP exam- Critical Thinking |
NWACC Class of 2005 student mean scores are comparable to state and national scores (see trends graph) |
CAAP exam- Scientific Reasoning |
NWACC class of 2005 mean scores were over a point higher than their peers in across the state and nationally (see trends graph) |
AA/AS Graduate Survey |
97% of students responding rated their reasoning or problem solving skills as superior or adequate |
Go back to top, back to the table, or see the formal HOTS assessment plan
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Computer Proficiency |
Students can use computers proficiently. |
Measures |
Recent Results |
Pre-post Test Analysis in CISQ 1103 |
In 2004 & 2005, CISQ 1103 students averaged 85% on post-tests for MSWord, Excel, Acess, and PowerPoint (70% is considered an acceptable score). The average improvement from the pre-test to post-test was 66%. See computer skill performance trends. |
AA/AS Graduate Survey |
96% of graduates responding rated the computer skill preparation they received at NWACC either adequate or superior |
Go back to top, back to the table, or see the formal Computer Proficiency assessment plan
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Information Literacy |
Students can employ a variety of sources to locate, evaluate, and use information. |
Measures |
Recent Results |
AA/AS Graduate Survey |
93% of students responding rated their research skills as superior or adequate |
Go back to top, back to the table, or see the formal Information Literacy assessment plan
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