STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

and

PROGRAM ACCOUNTABILITY in STUDENT SERVICES

Philosophy Statement, Vice President for Student Services – Bryan Doak

Student Services at Arizona Western College is committed to providing the best services and programming for our students and the community. Student Services, a division within Arizona Western College, is obliged to provide learning opportunities for our students that span beyond the classroom with an emphasis on the total development of the person. We are intent on addressing learning opportunities that begin with recruitment and admission on to graduation, to include auxiliary departments such as: Athletics, Campus Police, Campus Life... Each department housed within Student Services is dedicated to learning outcomes as paramount in ensuring the best and most meaningful learning experiences for our students.

Simply stated, when we address Student Learning Outcomes we think about what is most important for a student to learn and the knowledge, skills or experiences a student should walk away with as a result of mutual contact. Student Learning Outcomes are about meaningful, intentional programming aimed at producing meaningful, intentional results.

Of course, Student Learning Outcomes can be a lofty concept if we do not keep in mind that we are also accountable to students as our final product. It is important that we arm them with the competencies to make them quality, productive, contributing members of society. Without assessing our programs, services, strengths and weaknesses, we are unable to progress in keeping up with a diverse and ever-changing world. Looking inward, evaluating ourselves and asking others to evaluate us, challenges us to not just look our best, but to be our best.