Lesson 4: How to Develop Program-Level Outcomes
"[It is] likely learning objectives exist for individual courses but not for the program as a whole." (Palomba & Banta, p. 32) Today's climate of accountability, however, demands outcomes at the Program Level.
Not only are there are numerous ways to approach this task, but several - if not all - should be utilized to achieve the most appropriate set of outcomes for a marketable graduate.
- Review course syllabi in key major-related courses in your Program. Determine broad, overarching outcomes from those particular courses.
- Review standards and guidelines for learning developed by professional associations or accrediting bodies
- Review program-level outcomes from other community colleges.
- Discuss, as program faculty, the characteristics of an "ideal" graduate, e.g., what the graduate should know and be able to do.
- Survey alumni three to five years after graduation to determine their satisfaction with their career preparation.
- Survey employers and/or advisory committee members regarding the successful employee.
- Survey senior institutions regarding the successful transfer student in baccalaureate programs.
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