Assessment Office

Andrew Thompson, Director of Institutional Assessment and Research, 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
    Ag & Natural Resources                    including GED tutors:
    Applied Science & Technology              Eagle Nest
    Education                                 East Wakpamni
    Humanities and Language Arts              He Sapa Learning Center
    Human Services                            LaCreek
    Information Technology                    Oglala
    Lakota Studies                            Pass Creek
    Math and Science                          Pejuta Haka
    Nursing                                   Pine Ridge
    Graduate Studies                          Pahin Sinte
                                              Wounded Knee

2.  LRC and Archives                      2.  Community/Continuing Ed. Dept.
3.  Institutional Assessment & Research   3.  Student Services
                                          4.  Bookstore
                                          5.  Business Office
                                          6.  Personnel/Dev. Office/President
                                              Maintenance/ EAP-SAP/Activities
                                          7.  Registrar/Financial Aid/Funds
                                              Student Support 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 of

Instructional Divisions...

  1. Ag and Natural Resources
  2. Applied Science and Technology
  3. Education
  4. Humanities and Language Arts
  5. Human Services
  6. Information Technology
  7. Lakota Studies
  8. Math and Science
  9. Nursing
  10. Graduate Studies

Instructional Supporting Departments...

  1. LRC and Archives
  2. Institutional Assessment and Research

Instructional Sites...

  1. Eagle Nest
  2. East Wakpamni
  3. He Sapa Learning Center
  4. LaCreek
  5. Oglala
  6. Pass Creek
  7. Pejuta Haka
  8. Pine Ridge
  9. Pahin Sinte
  10. Wounde Knee

Administrative Departments...

  1. Community/Continuing Ed. Dept.
  2. Student Services
  3. Bookstore
  4. Business Office
  5. Personnel
  6. Dev. Office
  7. President
  8. Maintenance
  9. EAP-SAP
  10. Activities
  11. Registrar
  12. Financial Aid
  13. Funds
  14. Student Support Services
  15. Technology Support Services