For more information, contact James Jolly, director of marketing and communications, at 843.383.8018

Hartsville, S.C. — Coker College has been recognized by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) for the way it measures the learning outcomes of its students. In its 2006 annual report “Engaged Learning: Fostering Success for All Students,” the NSSE highlights Coker’s self-evaluation initiative and calls it “innovative.” 

Coker’s mission as a liberal arts college includes an emphasis on analytical thinking, creative thinking, effective speaking and effective writing.  Rather than use a standardized test to attempt to measure student abilities in these areas, Coker has developed a student-centered approach.  This Faculty Assessment of Core Skills (FACS) relies on professional judgments of the faculty as they work with students individually.

“Colleges and universities need to prove to students and parents that they are providing an effective learning experience,” said Dr. David Eubanks, Coker College’s planning and assessment director. “Our FACS program helps us to continually monitor learning outcomes so that we can fulfill our educational commitment to students.”

Coker’s results from the NSSE and FACS in 2004 showed a need to improve student writing.  The college has since successfully launched a curriculum-wide initiative that emphasizes writing skills called Write On!

Since 2000 over 1000 colleges and universities, including Coker College, have participated in the NSSE in order to promote student success and institutional effectiveness. The NSSE gathers information about student participation in college programs and activities. Institutions use their data to identify aspects of the undergraduate experience inside and outside the classroom that can be improved. 

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December 7, 2006