4.1  

When evaluating success with respect to student achievement in relation to the institution’s mission, the institution includes, as appropriate, consideration of course completion, state licensing examinations, and job placement rates.

RATIONALE FOR COMPLIANCE JUDGMENT

Nashville State Technical Community College (NSCC) includes course completion, state licensing examination scores, job placement rates, and additional student outcome measures when evaluating success of the institution in accomplishing its mission.  Many of the measures used are reported annually as part of Tennessee’s annual Performance Funding Program [1].  Student achievement data such as exit test scores, job placement, licensure examination scores, course completion, and re-enrollment are reviewed by academic administrators and by program faculty annually and are used to make changes in curricula and in classroom activities. 

Certificate and associate degree programs are externally reviewed on a regular basis.  All accreditable degree programs are accredited by appropriate agencies.  All other degree and all certificate programs complete a program review or an academic audit, including external reviewers, at least once every five years, as shown on the Performance Funding Calendar for 2005-10 [2].  Course completion rates are examined as part of the review process.  Course completion and retention are also compared to a national sample of community colleges through participation in the National Community College Benchmark Project (NCCBP) [3]. 

Program completion tests are also administered.  Every degree program administers an exit test at least once every five years [2], while many programs administer this test annually so they can make appropriate improvements on a continuing basis and have more adequate trend data.  All degree graduates must complete the California Critical Thinking Skills Test and the College monitors these scores for the college as a whole and by major [4].  Although NSCC students score above the national mean on the CCTST, the actual performance demonstrated on the subtests is low nationally.  Based partly on student performance on the CCTST, NSCC has chosen Critical Thinking as the focus for its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) for SACS reaffirmation of accreditation.

Licensure examination scores are collected and scrutinized annually for the Occupational Therapy Assistant, Surgical Technology, and Surgical Assisting programs.  In response to falling pass rates, the Occupational Therapy Assistant program made curriculum revisions that resulted in pass rates rising from 41% in 2003 to 100% in 2006.

Graduates of all A.A.S. degree and technical certificate programs are monitored for success in finding employment in an area related to their NSCC training..  Students who are continuing their education and/or employed in a job related to their NSCC training are considered successful.  Overall rates are tracked by program [5] and also compared with national overall performance reported on the NCCBP [3].