Assessment Office
Rene Hersrud, Assessment Director, Phone
MISSION STATEMENT
In 1998, OLC created the Institutional Assessment and Research Office (IAR) to support the institution's
planning and budgeting efforts, and to coordinate and implement outcomes assessment processes across all
departments and work teams of the institution. The Institutional Assessment and Research Office together
with the Assessment Committee assists departments in devising and strengthening assessment plans; it collects
departmental reports, and compiles, analyzes, and summarizes a variety of data to be used in institutional
planning and external reporting.
The Institutional Assessment and Research Office, in cooperation with departments and work teams, takes the
lead in carrying out institution wide satisfaction surveys of students, employees, and communities; it also
coordinates assessment of student academic achievement in the General Education Program.
Contact Information:
Institutional Assessment and Research Office
Oglala Lakota College
P.O. Box 490
Kyle, South Dakota 57752
Phone: 605-455-6043
Fax: 605-455-2787
COMPONENTS OF OLC'S ASSESSMENT PLAN
Assessments will be conducted in all departments and work teams of the College including academic
departments, student support services, administration and management. Processes such as budgeting,
planning, and decision-making will also be assessed.
Departments and Work Teams of OLC
Instructional Division: Support Services Division:
1. Ten (10) Academic Departments 1. Ten (10) Instructional Sites including GED tutors:
Ag & Natural Resources Eagle Nest
Applied Science & Technology East Wakpamni
Education He Sapa Learning Center
Humanities and Language Arts Lacreek
Human Services Oglala
Information Technology Pass Creek
Lakota Studies Pejuta Haka
Math and Science Pine Ridge
Nursing Pahin Sinte
Graduate Studies Wounded Knee
2. LRC and Archives 2. Community/Continuing Ed. Dept.
3. Institutional Assessment & Research 3. Student Support Services Program
4. Bookstore
5. Business Office
6. Personnel/Dev. Office/President/
Maintenance/ EAP-SAP/Activities
7. Registrar/Financial Aid/Student Fund
(Student Support Administrative Services)
8. Technology Support Services
GENERAL ASSESSMENT STRATEGY
Process
OLC's Assessment strategy follows the sequence set out below:
o Institutional Strategic Plan based on the College's vision, mission, and purposes and taking account
of internal and external conditions;
o Setting annual department or program goals and objectives in line with the institutional strategic
plan and priorities;
o Establishing intended program outcomes;
o Deciding on evaluation methods, which will include self-assessments and performance evaluations of
departments, work teams and employees. In addition, satisfaction surveys with constituents will also
be conducted;
o Implementing the assessment plan; that is, collecting data to conduct program reviews in academic and
non-academic departments and work teams;
* Reporting results and advancing hypotheses about the results;
* Assessing outcomes in academic and non-academic departments and work teams through evaluation and
program reviews;
o Making recommendations and decisions;
Measurement and Program Reviews
Departments and Work Teams will conduct self-assessments that consist of data collected on a continuous basis
on topics relevant to their goals.
Supervisors will conduct semi-annual and annual evaluations of personnel based on Work Expectation Forms
(WEFS). Faculty are assessed by peer-, student-, and self-evaluation.
Satisfaction surveys will be conducted with users/constituents
ASSESSING STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
In addition to the above, the College and academic departments will also conduct periodic assessments of
student academic achievement. Student learning outcomes will be assessed in:
1. The developmental education program is designed to ensure college-readiness of students in an open
admissions College. Placement tests are conducted each semester and results are forwarded to the
Institutional Assessment and Research Office.
2. The General Education Program ensures that students have a broad base of knowledge and skills as they
begin their major concentration. Included in this set of goals are: understanding and familiarity
with Lakota culture and history, and knowledge of the fundamentals of Lakota language;
computer/information literacy; critical thinking skills; an appreciation of the cross-cultural and
historical dimensions of contemporary issues; an appreciation of the fine and performing arts; and
the development of an ethical perspective.
A general education component is required in all curricular offerings, including certificates,
diplomas, and degrees.
OLC's faculty exercises oversight of the General Education Program and works with the administration
to regularly assess the program's effectiveness in relation to the organization's stated goals for
student learning.
Assessments of students' academic achievement in the General Education
Program are conducted at least once a year.
3. Assessment of student learning in their major area of concentration: Each academic department
devises an assessment plan for its programs/courses. The Plan specifies intended outcomes of
knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are demonstrable and measurable.
4. The Graduate Program under the supervision of the Graduate Studies director.
The assessment process of students' academic achievement will include multiple measures such as tests of
academic knowledge and skills, alumni surveys, and long-term activities of graduates.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
All departments and work teams will follow a reporting schedule as outlined in the institutional assessment
calendar.
| Assessment Documents | Evaluate Centers |
| Evaluate Instructors | Praxis Information |
| Developmental Ed Proposal |
