Institutional Planning
The PCC Mission Statement and Goals establish the overall direction for the College. Institutional assessment is using data to measure the extent to which the college accomplishes its mission and goals.
Academic Learning Outcomes System
Each year Pitt Community College’s (PCC’s) Vice President for Academic Affairs works with academic division Deans, who in turn work with department chairs and program coordinators to establish program learning outcomes (PLOs) and operational outcomes (OPOs). The College organizes its educational programs into the following five academic divisions:
- Arts and Sciences
- Business
- Construction and Industrial Technology
- Health Sciences
- Public Service / Fine Arts
PCC employs Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) as those competencies that students who complete a specific program of study should have mastered within the program courses. Associated Operational Outcomes (OPOs) are also generated. These outcomes relate to program areas such as enrollments, retention, or other factors. They are established by faculty, with input from advisory committees and external certification and licensing agencies. PLOs are assessed in identified courses, and the assessments are used to evaluate student progress, student learning, and curriculum and instructional methodology. In November of each academic year the PLOs and OPOs are entered into the Planning System along with a corresponding assessment method and benchmark. The PLOs are evaluated and results, conclusions, and strategies are entered and reviewed by the division Dean. As necessary, PLOs & OPOs are modified or removed in an effort to focus on current, meaningful assessment of student success.
Leadership of each division is provided by a division Dean. Within these five divisions there are over academic sixty departments who report planning and evaluation activity and progress. The process is ongoing across all academic program departments. The online accountability system assists with managing, monitoring, and reporting PLOs and OPOs. It is a secure system that requires user authentication synchronized with vendor and institutional systems. It has been in use since 2013.
Process and Activities
- Update the PCC Mission and Goals on a periodic basis
- Monitor overall effectiveness of PCC through its online planning system
- Review/monitor General Education assessment and use results
- Engage & monitor use of assessment results for CCSSE, SENSE, Noel-Levitz, etc.