NOCE Outcomes Snapshot – WASC Accreditation Conversation

What is an SLO?

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) describe what students will know, be able to do, or demonstrate by the end of a course or program.

At NOCE, outcomes are connected:

Program Outcomes – What students can do when they complete a program or certificate.
Course Outcomes (SLOs) – What students should know and be able to do by the end of a course.
Learning Objectives – Smaller, lesson- or unit-level goals that build toward the course outcome.
Assessments – Assignments, projects, quizzes, observations, etc. that show whether students met the objectives and outcomes.

When we assess SLOs, we are checking how well students are achieving the outcomes we say we value.

How are our students doing? (SLO Scorecard)

SLO Scorecard – 2024/25 (Canvas Learning Mastery Gradebook)

Where we captured SLOs

Fall 2024: SLO data in Canvas for 336 of 753 active CRNs (45%)
Spring 2025: SLO data in Canvas for 445 of 819 active CRNs (54%)

How many student assessments this represents

Fall 2024: 15,527 individual SLO assessments
Spring 2025: 30,197 individual SLO assessments – a 94% increase from fall

Student achievement (0–4 mastery scale)

Canvas rubric levels: 0 = No Evidence, 1 = Below Mastery, 2 = Near Mastery, 3 = Meets Mastery, 4 = Exceeds Mastery.

Fall 2024: about 59% of assessed results were 3 or 4 (Meets/Exceeds Mastery), and about 28% were 0 (No Evidence).
Spring 2025: about 71% of assessed results were 3 or 4 (Meets/Exceeds Mastery), and about 15% were 0 (No Evidence).

Faculty participation

Faculty with at least one course reporting SLOs in Canvas: 45% in Fall 2024 and 54% in Spring 2025.

Important note

These numbers reflect only course sections where SLOs were aligned to assignments and mastery levels were entered into Canvas. We know additional assessment is happening across NOCE that is not yet captured in the Learning Mastery Gradebook, and increasing consistent SLO data input is a key 2025–26 priority.

What is an ILO?

Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs) describe the broad knowledge, skills, and abilities that all NOCE students are expected to develop, no matter which program or course they take. ILOs reflect our mission and our promise to students.

NOCE currently has two ILOs:

Empowerment to be lifelong learners
Students demonstrate the confidence and courage to learn how to learn, as well as appropriate research, study, inquiry, and goal-setting skills.
Ability to function effectively within the community
Students demonstrate effective interpersonal communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, as well as an understanding of the value of diversity.

Faculty now assess ILOs in Canvas using the same rubric process as SLOs. This lets us see college-wide trends in student learning.

Activity: Are Our ILOs Still the Right Ones?

At your table, please discuss and jot ideas on sticky notes:

Where do you see these ILOs in your courses or programs?

Which assignments or activities already connect to one of the ILOs?

Do our current ILOs still capture what every NOCE student should be able to do?

What might be missing?

What college-wide skills do all programs care about?
Possible examples to consider:

Digital literacy and using technology safely and effectively
Self-advocacy and self-determination
Professional communication and workplace soft skills
Critical thinking and problem solving
Cultural awareness, equity, and inclusion
Executive functioning (time management, organization, follow-through)

If we revised or added ILOs, what would you recommend and why?

We will collect your notes to identify shared themes (e.g., digital literacy, self-advocacy, workforce readiness) that could inform future updates to NOCE’s Institutional Learning Outcomes and our ongoing WASC work.