23 Curiculum Analysis:

Describe the process which is used to regularly review curriculum and course content.

Every five years NIC conducts a program review of the History Program, during which we bring colleagues from area institutions (U of I, LCSC, Gonzaga, EWU, SFCC, CSI, CWI, etc.) who provide input and suggestions about how to improve the program. Collaborative intra departmental discussions, student evaluations, professional development opportunities, and discussions with the division chair via teaching observations and evaluations. The History Program also uses GEM outcomes to assess how well students are learning course content and outcomes. For this Program Review cycle, GEM data indicates students are meeting the following competencies at the rates noted (all GEM 6 rates are included parenthetically for comparison):

• Competency 1: 95. 3%  – (93.8%)
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of a particular Social Science discipline.
• Competency 2. 95.7%  – (91.9%)
  • Describe self and the world by examining the dynamic interaction of individuals, groups, and societies as they shape and are shaped by history, culture, institutions, and ideas.
• Competency 3: 95% – (91.8%)
  • Utilize Social Science approaches, such as research methods, inquiry, or problem-solving, to examine the variety of perspectives about human experiences.

• Competency 4: 94.1% – (90.2%)
  • Evaluate how reasoning, history, or culture informs and guides individual, civic, or global decisions.

• Competency 5: 95%  – (90.4%)
  • Identify the impact of the similarities and differences among and between individuals, cultures, or societies across space and time.

These numbers indicate students in history courses are achieving GEM competencies at a higher rate than the rest of the division, but at such a difference as to be remarkable.

What evidence is there that the curriculum is current in content and design to help students achieve the program outcomes they need to be successful at completion?

At the present time, the Program Outcomes dashboard is in its beginning stages, therefore we do not have data for History Program Outcomes. The best available methods to assess whether or not current students are meeting program learning outcomes are their graded performance in culmination class assignments and student graduation and transfer rates (see table below).