Washington State Community College Student Success Plan
Washington State Community College is a state supported institution offering a variety of associate degrees, certificates, and educational programming to serve the citizens of Southeastern Ohio.
| Mission |
| Washington State Community College will enrich the lives of students, families, and the community through education, training, community service and cultural activities. |
| Vision |
| Washington State Community College will cultivate a learning environment that inspires people to reach their potential. |
| We Value |
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To find out more about the college, its students, and programs, click here.
| Washington State Community College | ||
| http://www.wscc.edu | ||
| Mark Nutter, Chief Academic Officer | ||
| mnutter@wscc.edu |
Washington State Community College Points of Pride
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Washington State Community College maintains several programs and services to promote student success. Educational Access Programs Washington State works to assure access to college for all who seek higher education. The College administers several free programs that work toward the goal of increasing access to higher education for young people and adults in the Mid-Ohio Valley. These programs include Upward Bound, Talent Search, and College Tech Prep. Although many participants in these programs plan to attend college at Washington State, participation is not limited to students planning to go on to college immediately after high school. These programs help participants learn the importance of education in setting and working toward goals. To learn more about any of the access programs, click on the title below. |
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Washington State Community College supports students' academic success with a number of programs and services organized through the college's Learning Center. Click on the titles below to learn more about these programs. |
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Student Advising and Other Services Placement Testing and Developmental Studies Upon entrance, students are tested in math, English and reading using the COMPASS test to see if the are ready for college-level academic work. Depending upon the scores from these tests, students may be assigned to developmental education courses to help them build the skills and knowledge necessary for success in college. These courses are taken for credit and calculated in the quarterly grade point average, but do not apply toward graduation. Academic Advising The student advising system is designed to assist each student on an individual basis.
Academic advisors help students to:
Retention Coordinator The Retention Coordinator: Identifies and contacts students experiencing academic difficulties as documented on quarterly Interim reports and/or enrolled in developmental courses. Develops a quarterly "stop-out" list of students not enrolled and makes contact to determine feasibility for returning. Maintains database to track students. Hires Peer Mentors for students in need of general support and refers students to the Academic Coordinator for tutoring assistance. Works with faculty to develop training to increase student retention. Develops pre- and post-surveys to measure program effectiveness. Learning Communities Washington State has developed a model of Learning Communities to support student success. Students who test into developmental classes must take the co-requisite, PERS 100 SUCCESS!. Students in this course learn a variety of beneficial study skills and practive goal setting behaviors while becoming familiar with campus resources and programs. Learning Communities help students build skills and relationships that last throughout college. Supplemental Instruction Supplemental Instruction sessions provide group tutoring for courses with a high level of attrition and are led by an experienced upperclassman. Students meet once or twice a week to clarify problems that they have experienced in class. Student Handbook The Student Handbook provide information about college policies, services, and scholarships. WebAdvisor WebAdvisor is a powerful tool that provides Washington State students real-time, up-to-date information online. It can be used to check grades, register for classes and view schedules, transcripts, financial aid information and student bills from any Internet connection. |
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Graduation and Retention Rates Graduation rates at Washington State Community College exceed both state and national averages.
Accreditation and Continuous Improvment Washington State Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Washington State has chosen to use AQIP (Academic Quality Improvement Program) as the process for maintaining its accreditation. AQIP infuses the principles and benefits of continuous improvement into the culture of colleges and universities by providing an alternative process through which an already-accredited institution can maintain its accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. With AQIP, an institution demonstrates it meets accreditation standards and expectations through sequences of events that align with those ongoing activities that characterize organizations striving to improve their performance. Click here to find out more about how AQIP works at Washington State. Additionally, individual Washington State Programs are accredited or certified by the following agencies. Associate Degree Nursing -- Ohio Board of Nursing Massage Therapy -- Ohio State Medical Board Medical Laboratory Technology -- National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) Physical Therapist Assistant Technology -- Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) Radiologic Technology -- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology Repiratory Therapy Technology -- Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoArc) Automotive and Diesel Truck Systems -- National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Ohio Police Officer Training Academy -- Sanctioned and approved by the Ohio Attorney General's office |
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Washington State Community College General Education Learning Goals
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Upon completion of an associate degree program, a Washington State Community College graduate will be able to: 1. use various forms of communication more effectively as a communicator and an observer. 2. select and use effective approaches to solving a wide variety of problems as demonstrated by the ability to think critically, draw reasonable conclusions, and defend those conclusions rationally. 3. continue as an independent learner engaged in a lifelong process of discovery. 4. use current technology and scientific principles to adapt to a changing world. 5. demonstrates an awareness of the similarities and differences which express the human difference in an increasingly interdependent global community. |
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General Education Overview Washington State Community College uses a multi-level assessment approach for general education. The process employs direct and indirect assessment measures as well as global and classroom assessment techniques. The general education program is based on a set of minimum course requirements in English composition, speech, social and behavioral sciences, arts and humanities, mathematics, and science. The college has also established five general education goals which are tied to degree completion rather than completion of individual courses. Each degree program completes a general education review as part of a five-year program review cycle. The program must demonstrate that general education requirements are met at several levels: OBR, Transfer Module (for applicable programs), college graduation requirements, and inclusion of the college's general education goals. General Education Assessment Overview Program faculty members complete an annual assessment plan which includes indicators and outcomes for both general education and major area skills. Assessment plans are stored on the college's intranet. Data is entered on a continual basis and results are reviewed annually in an effort to "close the loop" and use assessment information to improve student learning outcomes. We are currently in the process of reviewing and revising aspects of this approach to create more detailed assessments. All course syllabi indicate the relationship among course objectives, general education goals, and assessment methods. Four of the five general education goals are assessed on a two-year cycle using a college-wide rubric. Understaning Values and Cultures and Science and Technology will be assessed during one cycle. Comunication and Critical Thinking will be assessed during the other cycle. Life-long learning will be assessed by the Office of Instititutional Research on a yearly basis with a survey sent to graduates at 1-year and 3-three intervals. Results are shared with program faculty for inclusion in their assessment review. Course-based assessments exist for developmental education, mathematics, and English composition. Additional course-based assessments are being developed for speech, science, and sociology. Students complete survey questions related to general education skills as part of the graduation petition and in a follow-up survey six months after graduation. The responses to these survey questions are tallied and reported by the Office of Institutional Research. Exit interviews with graduating students include questions about general education competencies. This information is summarized and shared with faculty and staff. CSSE (Community College Survey of Student Engagement) was administered in winter 2007 and will be administered in spring 2009. Results are shared with faculty, staff and students. Using the contintuous improvement process, the college is addressing the areas that fall below the cohort mean. |
Washington State Community College Program Goals
| Education Transfer (AAS) | |
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(The Education Program Goals are listed below as an example. For other Washington State Community College programs, see the list of links that follow the Education Goals.) Education Program Goals (All Licensure Levels): The goals of the education transfer program at Washington State focus on providing instruction and experience that will allow graduates to successfully transfer to four- and five-year institutions offering degrees that lead to teacher licensure at the early years, middle years, or young adult levels.
Other Washington State Community College Program Goals Associate of Arts Degree Programs Associate of Science Degree Programs
Associate of Applied Business Programs Accounting Technology: Business Computing Business Management Technology Computer Systems Technology: Computer Support Technician Digital Technology: Computer Graphics Digital Technology: Interactive Digital/Simulation Digital Technology: Digital Media Digital Technology: Web Programming Office Administrative Services: Executive Administrative Assistant Office Administrative Services: Legal Administrative Assistant Office Administrative Services: Medical Transcription Office Administrativve Services: Medical Adminstrative Assistant Associate of Applied Science Programs -- Engineering and Industrial Automotive Technology: Automotive Services Automotive Technology: Automotive and Diesel Truck Systems Automotive Technology: Diesel Truck Systems Electrical Engineering Technology Electrical Engineering Technology: Electronics Electrical Engineering Technology: Instrumentation & Control Industrial Technology: Chemical Operator Industrial Technology: Design Drafting Industrial Technology: Power Plant Operator Mechanical Engineering Technology Associate of Applied Science Programs -- Health Sciences Health and Wellness Technology Massage Therapy (Certificate Program) Practical Nursing (Certificate Program) Physical Therapist Assistant Technology Respiratory Therapy Technology Associate of Applied Science -- Public Service Programs American Sign Language Interpretation Criminal Justice Technology: Corrections Criminal Justice Technology: Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Technology: OPOTA (Certificate Program) |
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Assessing and Improving Learning Outcomes Each degree program at Washington State Community College maintains an annual plan for assessing student academic achievement. The plan includes measures and outcomes for both general education and major area skills and knowledge. Student academic assessment data is used annually by each program, many times in conjunction with an advisory committee, to make changes to program curriculum with the goal of improving student learning outcomes. Faculty also use the data longitundinally to conduct in-depth Program Reviews every five years. For an example of an academic assessment plan and related data analysis, click here for a link to the 2006-2007 Education Transfer Program report. |
