Assessment of Student Learning
Assessment is an ongoing process aimed at understanding and improving student learning. It is a key indicator of institutional effectiveness and a vehicle for improvement. Guided by its mission to provide high-quality education and foster student success, Bismarck State College (BSC) is committed to advancing and enriching student learning through data-driven improvements at all levels. To ensure a comprehensive approach, BSC has established four key levels of assessment for continuous improvement of student learning: Course, Program, Co-curricular, and Institutional.
Course
Course assessment evaluates course-specific learning outcomes (CLOs), which are foundational building blocks toward achieving program learning outcomes (PLOs). CLOs collectively contribute to PLOs by ensuring coherence and continuity between individual courses and the broader program goals. Each CLO is intentionally designed to align with the program's overarching objectives, supporting students' progression toward achieving the intended PLOs. To maintain alignment, every CLO must connect directly to at least one PLO, ensuring that individual courses contribute meaningfully to program success.
Program
BSC is committed to improving student learning by assessing all Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for every program. PLOs are central to student achievement assessment at BSC, representing the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies students are expected to attain upon completing their program of study. At BSC, Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) are intentionally designed to support PLOs, as the outcomes of individual courses collectively contribute to achieving the broader program goals. Each course offered at BSC is required to align with at least one PLO, ensuring a cohesive and purposeful curriculum structure across all programs. This alignment creates a shared understanding among students, faculty, employers, and accrediting bodies of what BSC graduates should achieve. Unlike CLOs, which focus on specific course-level outcomes, PLOs reflect the comprehensive skills and knowledge students develop across multiple courses. This approach ensures that BSC students are well-prepared to meet program goals, succeed in their chosen fields, and benefit from a robust and well-rounded educational experience.
Co-curricular
Co-curricular assessment at BSC measures the learning outcomes achieved through activities beyond the traditional classroom. BSC assesses co-curricular programs, including Athletics, Student Government, Student Support Services, and the Resident Assistant program, to ensure they effectively support student development and help students develop skills and competencies aligned with BSC’s Institutional Essential Learning Outcomes (IELOs). This process ensures these programs contribute to student success, uphold BSC’s mission, and provide a holistic educational experience that fosters both personal and academic growth for its students.
Institutional
At the institutional level, BSC's assessment efforts are anchored in its Institutional Essential Learning Outcomes (IELOs). IELOs embody the collective knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies that students are expected to develop through their overall experiences at BSC. These outcomes connect opportunities for learning both within and beyond the classroom, demonstrating how the campus community collaborates to promote student success. Annually, programs assess both IELOs and PLOs to measure student achievement and drive improvements. Faculty and staff across the institution share responsibility for assessment, ensuring that all students are active participants in this continuous improvement process during their time at BSC. Through its structured and intentional approach to assessment, BSC ensures that students receive a high-quality, well-rounded education that prepares them for academic success, career advancement, and meaningful contributions to their communities.