Developing the Year One Report: WVC’s Experience as a Pilot College Dr. Susan Murray Executive Director, Institutional Effectiveness

Key Elements of the New Model Mission-driven Integrates planning, action and assessment Continuous improvement Shorter reporting intervals Analysis and synthesis

MISSION AND CORE THEMES

Institutional Context Comprehensive Community College –Defined in state statute: RCW 28B.50 –Open admissions –Transfer, workforce, basic skills and community education –Separate and distinct from K-12 system and universities

Institutional Context Large, rural service district Only higher education institution based in the area Diverse population with disparate needs Economic drivers: agriculture, healthcare, natural resources

Mission Review Fall 2007 – Winter 2008 Led by Trustees Response and discussion Revisions (minor) and reaffirmation

WVC Mission Statement Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington by serving educational and cultural needs of communities and residents throughout the service area. The college provides high- quality transfer, liberal arts, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education for students of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds.

Core Themes Definition –“a manifestation of a fundamental aspect of institutional mission with an overarching common purpose that guides planning for programs and services, development of capacity, and application of resources to fulfill that aspect of the mission.”

Development of WVC Themes Ends Policies –Framework for institutional outcomes under Policy Governance model –Parsed mission statement and mapped to Ends Policies Key question: –Can we identify focused efforts or allocation of resources to achieve this theme?

Core Themes Transfer/Liberal Arts Professional/Technical Education Basic Skills Continuing Education Student Diversity/ Access Responsiveness to local needs Cultural education and enrichment

Identifying Core Themes Standard One: Mission, Manifestations, and Expectations Explication of Mission, Core Themes, Objectives, and Achievement Indicators Standard Three: Planning and Implementation Institutional and Core Theme Planning to Apply Resources and Capacity Theme 1 Transfer/ Liberal Arts Theme 2 Workforce Theme 3 Basic Skills Theme 4 Continuing Education Theme 5 Student Diversity/Access Theme 6 Responsiveness to Local Needs Theme 7 Cultural Education and Enrichment Standard Two Examination of Major Institutional Systems 2.A: Governance 2.B: Human Resources 2.C: Education Resources 2.D: Student Support Resources 2.E: Library and Information Resources 2.F: Financial Resources 2.G: Physical and Technical Infrastructure Transfer/ Liberal Arts WorkforceBasic SkillsContinuing EducationStudent Diversity/Access Responsiveness to Local Needs Cultural Education and Enrichment Standard Four: Effectiveness and Improvement Assess Achievement in Core Themes with Results Used for Improvement Standard Five: Mission Fulfillment, Sustainability, and Adaptation Evaluate Mission Fulfillment; Evaluate Adaptability to Change Determine Confidence for Future Relevance, Success, and Viability

OUTCOMES AND INDICATORS

Theme Level For each theme: Definition/description Intended outcomes Assessable and meaningful indicators of achievement Rationale

New Standards and Core Themes 1.B.1 The institution identifies core themes that individually manifest essential elements of its mission and collectively encompass its mission. 1.B.2 For each core theme the institution establishes objectives, each with meaningful, assessable, and verifiable indicators of achievement, which form the basis for evaluating achievement of those objectives.

Examples THEME High-quality liberal arts/transfer program ENDS POLICY Policy II: Transfer Curricula Students who declare an intent to transfer are prepared to be successful at the baccalaureate level INDICATORS The rates at which students are retained in and complete transfer preparation programs and/or courses A well-defined core curriculum articulated with university requirements The success of WVC transfer students at receiving universities SAMPLE MEASURES Retention through successive quarters for degree seeking students IPEDS (3 year) degree completion rates Student Achievement Initiative points Evidence of attainment of WVC Core Abilities Enrollment at 4-year institutions Academic performance after transfer Student satisfaction with instruction (CCSSE, WVC Graduation Survey)

Examples THEME Student Diversity/ Access ENDS POLICIES Policy V: Student Development and Support Services Policy VI: Access to Educational Programs and Services INDICATORS Outreach and recruiting activities connecting WVC to district high schools Participation in student organizations, athletics, and other leadership programs Student demographics compared to district population demographics Participation in opportunities for distance learning Partnerships with community-based organization to offer classes throughout the district Scholarship support SAMPLE MEASURES Student organization/team demographics General enrollment/Running Start enrollment by high school Retention and completion for key demographic groups Student satisfaction with programs and services (CCSSE, grad survey) CCSSE Student Engagement benchmarks

Mission Level How do you define fulfillment of mission? –Synthesis: more than the discrete themes What is an acceptable threshold? –What level of performance is good enough? –Foreshadowing Standard Five

New Standards and Mission Fulfillment 1.A.2 The institution defines mission fulfillment in the context of its purpose, values, and characteristics. Within that definition, it articulates institutional achievements, outcomes, or expectations that represent an acceptable threshold or extent of mission fulfillment.

New Standards and Mission Fulfillment 5.A.1 The institution engages in regular, systematic, and participatory self-reflective assessment of its accomplishments and progress toward fulfilling its mission. 5.A.2 Within its definition of mission fulfillment, the institution uses evidence-based assessment results to make determinations of quality, effectiveness and mission fulfillment and communicates findings to appropriate constituencies and the public.

Feedback from Year One Report Strengths: Direct and succinct report Clarity of core themes and strength of relationship to mission Primary use of direct measures of achievement for core theme outcomes

Feedback from Year One Report Areas to review: Clarify intended outcomes for core themes Ensure all indicators are assessable, measurable, and provide direct evidence Develop and articulate benchmarks or acceptable levels of achievement for indicators

Feedback from Year One Report Revisions to requirements: Define mission fulfillment Articulate an acceptable level of mission fulfillment

Current Status Developing response to mission fulfillment Gathering information for Standard Two Reviewing indicators and outcomes with group for each core theme

QUESTIONS?