Closing the Loop: How We Better Serve Our Students through a Comprehensive Assessment Process

Abstract

Outcomes assessment is often driven by demands for accountability. LaGuardia Community Colleges outcomes assessment model has advanced student learning, shaped academic program development, and created an impressive culture of facultydriven assessment. Our inquiry-based approach uses ePortfolios for collection of student work and demonstrates the importance of engaging faculty input into the outcomes assessment design to continually "close the assessment loop. " This article outlines the steps, successes, and challenges involved in constructing an effective outcomes assessment model that deepens learning across the institution.