STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES COORDINATORS IN THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM: FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTING STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES PROCESSES AND ACCREDITATION A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of California State University, Stanislaus In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership By Regina Coletto May 2014 CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES COORDINATORS IN THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM: FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTING STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES PROCESSES AND ACCREDITATION by Regina Coletto Signed Certification of Approval Page is on file with the University Library Dr. Jim Riggs Date Professor of Advanced Studies in Education Dr. Shawna Young Date Professor of Kinesiology Dr. George Railey Date Vice Chancellor, SCCCD © 2014 Regina Coletto ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this dissertation to Joey and Katie, who have sacrificed our time together. While I dedicated time to school, they provided me with patience and understanding so I could complete my program. Also, to my father, Henry Joseph Coletto, who reminded me daily to keep going, who took me fishing to clear my head when I needed it (even though I often had to study while there), and who always had faith in me to get this done. This is for you Dad! iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My journey to complete this dissertation has been over a decade in the making. Completing my dissertation, on my second attempt, signifies much more than holding a doctoral degree in my hand. It is a testament to knowing and believing in myself; to perseverance, to sacrifice, to dedication, and to how much love and support those around me have provided. To my dissertation chair, Dr. Jim Riggs … You never let me down. Your dedication to my education and to me as an individual has been unwavering and I cannot imagine going through this process without you. To my committee members … Dr. Shawna Young, you have always challenged my thinking, you are incredible, and I hope many generations of students to come have the same transformative experience with you that I was given. Dr. George Railey, thank you for your guidance and expertise in assessment in the CCC—I respect your knowledge and leadership. To my best friend, Rachelle, who has been there through both doctoral programs—I am done! Thank you for all your love, support, and understanding the past few years. Without it this would never have been completed. To my family and friends, I take your strength and love every day and try to use it to do something good for my own life and the lives of others. This is just one example of how your support has led to something incredible. Thank you! v To my Cohort 4 classmates, this was truly the adventure of a lifetime. Not only did I learn so much about education, caring for others, and being a leader, but you each in your own way taught me something about myself. This was even more worth it to have gone through it with each of you. Every conversation, every stressful moment quieted, every piece of motivation given, and every day spent over the past 3 years smiling or crying, but knowing this would one day end as an achievement to be proud of has transformed who I was, who I am, and who I will become in future years. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Dedication............................................................................................................ iv Acknowledgments................................................................................................ v List of Tables ....................................................................................................... x Table of Acronyms .............................................................................................. xi Abstract................................................................................................................ xii CHAPTER I. Introduction .......................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement....................................................................... 6 Purpose of Study.......................................................................... 8 Nature of the Study...................................................................... 9 Research Questions...................................................................... 9 Operational Definitions................................................................ 10 Assumptions................................................................................. 11 Limitations ................................................................................... 13 Theoretical Framework................................................................ 13 Significance of the Study............................................................. 15 Conclusion ................................................................................... 17 II. Review of the Literature...................................................................... 19 ACCJC Standards ........................................................................ 20 Standard I: Institutional Mission and Effectiveness ........ 21 Standard II: Student Learning Programs and Services .... 23 Standard III: Resources................................................... 27 Standard IV: Leadership and Governance ...................... 30 ACCJC Rubric for Student Learning Outcomes.......................... 31 Accreditation and Student Learning Outcomes ........................... 34 Student Learning Outcomes......................................................... 35 Assessing Student Learning Outcomes........................................ 38 Student Learning Outcomes Leadership...................................... 39 Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) ................................ 42 Conclusion ................................................................................... 46 vii CHAPTER PAGE III. Methodology...................................................................................... 48 Research Questions...................................................................... 49 Role of the Researcher................................................................. 49 Setting .......................................................................................... 50 Population and Sample ................................................................ 51 Ethical Considerations ................................................................. 52 Methodology................................................................................ 53 System-wide Survey ........................................................ 53 Data Collection ................................................................ 55 Data Analysis................................................................... 55 Conclusion ................................................................................... 56 IV. Findings ............................................................................................. 57 Research Sequence....................................................................... 59 Data Collection ............................................................................ 62 Population and Sample ................................................................ 62 SLO Coordinator Characteristics................................................. 67 Strategies for Implementing SLOs............................................... 70 Barriers to Implementing SLOs and How to Overcome Them ... 74 Campus Cultural Characteristics.................................................. 77 Affect on Accreditation Status..................................................... 83 Summary of Findings................................................................... 86 Quality of the Research................................................................ 89 Summary...................................................................................... 90 V. Summary, Implications, Conclusions, and Recommendations........... 92 Summary of Previous Chapters ................................................... 93 Summary of Research Findings................................................... 94 Comparison Between the Current Study and the ASCCC 2007 Study................................................... 98 Research Question 1: What Strategies Have Institutions in the California Community College System Utilized to Implement Student Learning Outcomes Processes? .................................................................. 103 Research Question 2: What Barriers Exist in the Implementation of Student Learning Outcomes Processes? .................................................................. 106 viii CHAPTER PAGE V. Summary, Implications, Conclusions, and Recommendations, continued Research Question 3: What Strategies Have Been Successful in Eliminating or Minimizing the Barriers to Implementing Student Learning Outcomes Processes?................................................. 109 Research Question 4: What Institutional Cultural Characteristics Affect the Successful Implementation of Student Learning Outcomes Processes? .................................................................. 111 Research Question 5: In what Ways Has the Institution’s Accreditation Status Impacted the Implementation of Student Learning Outcomes Processes? .................................................................. 113 Discussion and Evaluation..........................................................