Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) are an “umbrella term” that includes the study of essential student learning in a variety of contexts. The office of Student Learning Outcomes is engaged with supporting both Credit and Continuing Education disciplines as they seek to improve student learning through the analysis of data. We offer regular professional development and support as faculty engage in their assessment processes. Specific lists of outcomes and data are available within the EPCC intranet, but are not available on the public facing website.

More details on our team and areas of support are below:

Learning Outcome Assessments

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

CLOs are utilized by disciplines who instruct courses, or course sequences, but do not have program maps. These include both credit and developmental courses. CLOs are identified in the official course syllabus (Syllabus Part II) and describe the essential learning within the course, or course sequence.

Quality Indicators (QIs)

QIs are utilized by Continuing Education Programs, applying to multiple contexts. These include (but not limited to) certificates that have been recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Quality Indicators identify the essential Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities that students will develop within the course/program of study and are usually identified as required outcomes by external agencies (State agencies, Certification agencies, Federal agencies, etc.).

General Education Outcomes (GEOs)

GEOs are determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and identified by EPCC as learning outcomes students should obtain as a result of their general education/core curriculum experiences. These outcomes describe the foundational and transferrable learning a student acquires as they complete their General Education/Core Curriculum course work.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

PLOs are utilized by credit programs, adopted by program faculty, and describe the learning students should obtain as a result of their educational experiences within their completed program of study. Program learning outcomes are programmatic, including learning that is developed over multiple courses as the student completes a designated program map.

Compass Award

The Assessment Compass is a recognition of outstanding efforts by a Discipline to enhance student learning through intentional assessment design. Just as a compass empowers the user to navigate, so does assessment work allow us to understand how to guide our Programs and Disciplines in the direction of improving student learning. Each year the faculty select outstanding assessment work for recognition. In 2024 this recognition was based on the faculty work that evidenced a commitment to enhancing student access and demonstrating creativity/risk in seeking improvement in student learning. The 2024 Compass Award Honorees are:

Government (Course Learning Outcome) Credit Discipline

For their work pursuing student engagement and learning related to Civic Responsibility. Government has worked intentionally to collect student engagement data (related to both course and general education outcomes) and seek to improve student participation in learning activities. Through collaborations with other disciplines and community organizations Government has created a system that encourages student learning within their course and also learning transfer to the student’s selected program. Their willingness to support learning both within and beyond the discipline’s course level instruction demonstrates Governments willingness to embrace risk and seek student access.

Nursing (Program Learning Outcome) Credit Program

For their work in pursuing consistent and sustained program excellence. By implementing strong data collection systems that are analyzed at intervals throughout the year, Nursing has been able to seek improvement in student learning by responding quickly to student needs. Their ability to disaggregate and analyze across student experiences/populations allows for both program-wide and individualized learning enhancements for their majors. Ongoing commitment to both knowledge and skills acquisitions through real-world and simulation experiences defines the assessment process in Nursing as one that both seeks creativity and emphasizes access for all students.

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