Academic Assessment
Palo Alto College is committed to quality assessment because it is essential to improving student learning. The College uses both direct and indirect evidence of student achievement to guide improvements in teaching and curricula. The Office of Academic Assessment supports the Palo Alto College community by coordinating university-wide assessments, supporting improvement initiatives, and fostering a culture of assessment.
Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILO) Assessment
This is the evaluation system for Palo Alto College's core curriculum, which is structured around guidelines set forth by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and is comprised of nine component areas and six core objectives.
These core objectives are known as the Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs) at Palo Alto College because they focus and unite all College stakeholders around common goals for student learning. The ILOs comprise the skills and abilities that the College believes all students need in order to succeed and thrive in life, in their educational careers, and in the work place. The faculty embed lessons and assignments in their courses that allow students to practice and grow in these skills. Students also interact with and practice the skills and abilities through participation in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. Non-academic units support student acquisition of the ILOs by intentionally aligning them to unit goals.
The College has devised and refined processes for both directly and indirectly measuring students' proficiency in each of the ILOs through the scoring of student work using locally-developed rubrics and student surveys.
Institutional Learning Outcomes
Institutional Learning Outcomes Assessment Resources
ILO Assessment Calendar (PDF)
ILO Courses Crosswalk (PDF)
ILO Assessment Process Explanation (PDF)
Glossary of Assessment Terms (PDF)
Program Assessment
Palo Alto College's degree and certificate program learning outcomes are assessed each year. Faculty in the various programs identify the learning outcomes, assessment measures, and targets for student performance. The results prompt dialogue among program faculty and lead to improvements in teaching and curriculum, which are reported in the annual Program Assessment Report.
To learn more about the program assessment findings and resulting action plans, contact the program lead for each particular program of interest.
Program Assessment Resources
Program Assessment Calendar (PDF)
Program Assessment Report Template
Weigh Pig, Feed Pig, Weigh Pig (PPT) - Dr. Keston Fulcher, Keynote, January 2018
Faculty Workshop (PPT) - Dr. Keston Fulcher, January 2018
Staff Workshop (PPT) - Dr. Keston Fulcher, January 2018
Key Assignment Design
Key Assignment Design Workshops are resuming this semester! These workshops are a great opportunity to have cross-disciplinary conversations with your colleagues.
In each workshop, participants will bring an assignment/assessment that 2-3 faculty, one staff member, and one student will review and give feedback to the author of the assignment. Please contact your department chairs if interested.
“This is a very helpful workshop. I think faculty should have more development opportunities to workshop their curriculum. It is beneficial to have non-faculty engaged in the process.” |
“The discussion was structured well and resources provided were informative…the constructive input from my colleagues and a student helped me to see where I needed to add clarity to my assignment.” |
Key Assignment Design Resources
LEAP Texas
DQP Assignment Library
Assignment Design Presentation by Bonnie Orcutt
Assignment Design Presentation by NILOA
One Faculty Member’s Experience: Course & Assignment Design for Improving Student Learning
Transparency in Learning and Teaching Project
Designing Effective Classroom Assignments (PDF)
To Imagine a Verb: The Language and Syntax of Learning Outcomes Statements (PDF)
NILOA Assignment Toolkit
Assessment Resources
Contact Information
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Phone: 210-486-3725 |
Amanda Harrison |
Melissa Elston |