MATC Matters

Looking at AQIP
Category 1: Helping Students Learn

AQIP has identified nine Categories of related key processes that provide a framework for the assessment and improvement of higher education institutions. The first Category, AQIP Category 1 – Helping Students Learn, is the pivot point for any institutional analysis. The Category examines the institution’s processes and systems related to:

• learning outcomes – known at MATC as Core Abilities
• academic program and course creation and maintenance
• student preparation for and selection of a learning program
• effective and efficient instructional delivery
• curricular and co-curricular support of student learning
• student assessment

The College provides evidence that students are learning by providing results for but not limited to Core Abilities, program outcomes, graduate placement, employer satisfaction with graduates as well as results related to processes associated with Helping Students Learn. Within the Systems Portfolio, the College also discusses how it improves its processes and systems along with current specific targets and priorities for improvement.

In the Systems Appraisal, a feedback report on MATC’s Systems Portfolio, the assessment team identified both strengths and opportunities for improvement related to Helping Students Learn. Strengths included MATC’s use of Core Abilities, student assessment processes and the students’ preparation for employment or further education. Documenting our results for Core Abilities and program outcomes was one key opportunity for improvement.

Because Helping Students Learn is the pivotal function of all higher learning institutions at least one of an institution’s Action Projects must address this category. At MATC, we currently are working on nine Action Projects, many of which address some aspects of Helping Students Learn. The Action Projects “Flexible Learning,” “Course Portfolio” and “Student Retention” are most directly related to student learning and Category 1. As MATC moves forward in the AQIP journey of continuous improvement, the College will maintain its focus on Helping Students Learn, but the institution must also be mindful of its work in the remaining eight AQIP Categories.