Assessment Programs

PWSCC Educational Program Assessment

Educational program assessment provides the foundation for evaluating the effectiveness of an institution’s educational programs and activities. Student knowledge and skills are assessed at the time of entry and at various points throughout a student’s educational tenure at PWSCC.

PWSCC requires all entering students who are degree oriented to take placement tests prior to registration. These placement tests are assessment tools developed by the American College Testing Program and are used to determine the student’s preparedness for college-level work and placement in appropriate English and math courses.

Each degree program and special learning activity at PWSCC has specified program outcomes.

PWSCC Institutional Assessment Program

Prince William Sound Community College Institutional Assessment Program, conducted at all three campuses, is designed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of PWSCC in carrying out its mission. Assessment activities provide valuable information that is used by PWSCC in planning for the future of PWSCC and to strengthen the many programs and services provided by PWSCC.

Enrollment Survey - completed at the time of registration
Current Student Survey - completed by all students during week 10 of spring semester
Graduate Exit Survey - mailed to all current graduates each semester
Community Survey - conducted biennially
Employee Survey - conducted biennially
Alumni Survey - conducted periodically
Faculty Evaluation - conducted annually
Adjunct Faculty Evaluation - conducted biennially
Student Evaluation of Courses - conducted each semester
Follow-up with Non-returning Students - conducted periodically
Curriculum Review and Approval - Ongoing
Analysis of Institution Statistics related to enrollment, demographics, etc. - Ongoing

Student Right-to-Know

Prince William Sound Community College is pleased to provide the following information regarding our institution’s graduation/completion and transfer-out rates. The information is provided in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The rates reflect the graduation, completion and transfer-out status of students who enrolled during the (Fall 2007) school year and for whom 150% of the normal time-to-completion has elapsed.

Graduation rate cohort as a percent of all undergraduates (Fall 2007); graduation rate and transfer out rate (2004 cohort); and retention rates (Fall 2007)

Part-time - 20%
Full-time – 21%
Transfer-out rate – 14%
Graduation rate, overall – 10%
Graduation rate cohort as a percent of entering class – 13%
Graduation rate cohort as a percent of undergraduates – 2%

NOTE: Graduation rate cohort includes all full-time, first-time, degree/certificate Graduation rate cohort includes all full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students. Entering class includes all students coming to the institution for the first time. Only institutions with a mission to prepare students to transfer are required to report transfers out. Graduation and transfer-out rates are the Student Right-to-Know rates. 4-year schools report retention rates for students seeking a bachelor’s degree. For more information, see the Methodological Notes. N is the number of institutions in the comparison group. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS): Spring 2008, Fall Enrollment component and Graduation Rates component.