EL CAMINO COLLEGE
Office of the Vice President – Academic Affairs
NOTES – 17 November 2008
Assessment of Learning Committee (ALC)
Present: L. Kjeseth, L. Gallucci, D. Grogan, J. Farias, R. Bergeman, D. Thompson,
K. Laureano-Ribas, C. Striepe, D. Goldberg
A. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 2:30 p.m.
B. Vice President for Instructional Effectiveness: This is a new position being considered by
the Academic Senate, to replace the Vice President for Legislative Affairs. Claudia Striepe,
a senator, explained that this vice president would be elected from among the senators and
would attend the ALC meetings, among others. Having someone in this position would
improve the committee’s communication with our Academic Senate and free the
coordinators to continue meeting with groups of faculty, rather than attending Senate
meetings.
C. Formal Response to the questions “What is the ALC?” and “What has the ALC done?”:
There is some confusion and growing concern about the role the ALC has within college
governance. In particular, some recent decisions, such as the requirement that outcomes (or
objectives) be included in syllabi, are being attributed to the ALC, when in fact we have
made no formal recommendations. L. Kjeseth will draft an formal answer to these questions
and will submit it to the committee for comments BEFORE the next ALC meeting.
Discussion was held using the assessment principles to organize this response.
D. Syllabi, Course Outlines, Outcomes, Faculty Evaluations, and Academic Freedom:
Discussion was held on the continuing concerns regarding how academic freedom fits into
this entire process. We quickly focused on how work on student learning outcomes and
assessments has become a contractual part of a fulltime faculty’s self-evaluation. There was
some shock expressed by certain members, who were not aware of this new feature in the
contract. Without the specific contract language or examples of evaluation instructions, the
committee decided to continue this discussion at the next meeting. Beforehand, committee
members will receive the precise contract language, its location in the contract, and
examples of how this has been translated into evaluation instructions. After that, we turned
again to the question of outcomes in our syllabi. It was noted that between the Torrance and
Compton campuses, the approach to this issue is responding to very different stimuli. D.
Goldberg suggested to return to the language in the ACCJC Standards, which the committee
will do so at the next meeting.
E. CurricUNET: L. Kjeseth reminded members of the open forums on the curriculum process
that will be held today and tomorrow. D. Grogan spoke passionately about the need to
interlace curriculum and student learning outcomes and assessments. She was not insisting
that outcomes be placed into course outlines of record, but rather that all of this work should
be done by the same people and why not do it at the same time. Her point met with general
agreement, although how this will be achieved will need to be left to each division/
department. Before the end of the semester, L. Kjeseth hopes to offer the campus a general
introduction to CurricUNET. He plans to offer future open forums on student learning
outcomes and assessment reporting and CurricUNET, but these may need to wait until
February. If possible, he will present a short (10 minute) overview of CurricUNET at the
next meeting.
F. Clicker Demonstration: J. Farias asked about hosting a clicker demonstration for the
committee. It was agreed that this was possible for a future meeting. [Based on what is
already on the agenda for our final meeting December 1, this may have to take place in early
February.]
G. Evidence that Student Learning Outcome Assessment Cycles Improve Learning:
C. Striepe agreed to work with L. Kjeseth on a Flex Day presentation addressing this issue.
H. Assessment of Student Learning Week: At the last meeting, it was discussed if it could be
possible to combine a widespread program-level student learning outcome assessment in the
Art Department with the spring’s ASLW. This was to take place during the Art open house,
but unfortunately, this takes place during the final week of the semester. While L. Kjeseth
hope we can still have a high-profile program-level assessment in the art department, he will
be bringing other possible dates for the spring ASLW to the next meeting.
I. ESL Brown Bags: R. Bergeman reported surprising and pleasant success in working with
ESL faculty in creating student learning outcome assessment proposals without once using
the term SLO. She simply had them review course objectives, and asked if they made sense
and, if so, asked for examples of how instructors assessed these objectives.
J. Courses Taught Only by Adjuncts & Timelines: L. Kjeseth reminded representatives that
he has not received definitive lists of courses taught only by adjuncts from most divisions.
He explained that he needed this information before the end of the semester. He will meet
with the deans and representatives to examine each divisions completed timelines during the
first three weeks of December. [all of these meetings will be done before the end of the
year.]
K. Division SLO Committees & Attendance at the ALC Meetings: Attendance at the ALC
meetings by division representatives and other members has been poor this fall. At the last
meeting, we decided it was time to reconstitute/renew/revitalize the division SLO
committees. We discussed the importance that as many constituencies as possible attend all
of these meetings. L. Kjeseth raised the example set by the Business Division, who made
sure either Donna Grogan or Ollie Hadley attended all meetings last year. L. Kjeseth
suggested that it become the practice that, once the division SLO committees have been
populated, that the ALC representatives make sure someone from that committee be able to
attend each ALC meetings. This will be discussed at the next meeting.
L. Student Services Upcoming Workshops: L. Gallucci announced the upcoming SLO
Workshop in student services for January 23, 2009.
2
M. Dates for Spring 2009: Committee members will receive these in a separate email once they
have been confirmed.
N. Tentative Agenda for 12/1/08:
1. Draft of Formal Response to “What is the ALC and what does it do?”
2. Contract Language regarding Faculty Self-Evaluation — Do we need to make
recommendations?
3. Powerpoint Overview of CurricUNET (if possible)
4. Possible dates for ASLW & Ideas for ASLW
5. Role of Division SLO Committees & Attendance
3