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Cascadia Community College identified two core themes, with extensive thought and input from a variety of constituencies, based on the Cascadia mission statement and founding principles of a learning college; the core themes are Learning-Centered Education and Collaboration. These two themes embody the foremost, integrated areas through which we realize our mission, and encompass all the college does with transfer education, basic skills, professional technical offerings, and continuing education. The themes overlap and integrate with each other as well as with the four institutional Learning Outcomes; Think, Learn, Interact, and Communicate. The College’s support systems to assist learners are addressed by the two core themes. The following section describes these core themes, their objectives and intended outcomes, indicators of effectiveness, and the rationale for selection of the indicators. These core themes individually convey essential elements of, and collectively encompass, our mission.
Core Theme One: Learning-Centered Education
Learning-Centered Education is focused on providing education that is creative, comprehensive, culturally rich, technologically advanced, and learner-centered, while being environmentally sensitive, and globally aware. It is the College’s belief that in order to support learners in this model a caring culture of engagement must be embodied by the campus as a whole. To foster that engagement and culture the word “learner” is expanded to include staff and faculty.
Objective #1: Students and employees are engaged in a learning-centered environment.
Outcome: College-wide learning outcomes are represented throughout campus processes.
Indicator of Effectiveness:
• Programs complete program review as schedule in a four year rotation after process is created/finalized.
• 100% of course syllabi and Course Outcome Guides (COGs) approved by SLC reflect institutional learning outcomes.
• 50% of permanent employees are engaged in a given year in professional development.
Outcome: Learners are actively engaged
Indicator of Effectiveness:
• Achieve and maintain 80th decile in results for all CCSSE benchmarks each survey year.
Objective #2: Students are encouraged to be environmental stewards.
Outcome: Courses reflect integration of environmental content
Indicator of Effectiveness:
• Environmental Sensitivity distribution area.
• Maintain a "Satisfied to Very Satisfied" percentage at or above 85% regarding environmental sensitivity is evident in how and what is taught on the CCSSE.
Objective #3: Create a positive environment for global and intercultural awareness.
Outcome: Courses reflect integration of environmental content.
Indicator of Effectiveness:
• Course Outcome Guides reflect global and intercultural awareness content.
• CCSSE CQ-13. Maintain a "Satisfied to Very Satisfied" percentage at or above 85% regarding exposure to global awareness on the CCSSE.
Objective #4: Students’ achieve their educational goals.
Outcome: Students progress towards established educational milestones
Indicator of Effectiveness:
• Regular yearly increases in all categories of the Student Achievement Initiative.
• Maintain a "Satisfied to Very Satisfied" percentage at or above 80% regarding helping students be successful on the CCSSE.
Outcome: Students are employed from the workforce training program
Indicator of Effectiveness:
• Increase the number of students working 9 months after completion; monitor yearly for capacity.
Outcome: Students complete degrees and transfer.
Indicator of Effectiveness:
• Increase degree completions and transfers in relation to enrollments with annual review for feasibility and benchmarking.
Core Theme Two: Collaboration
Collaboration is the term used by the College to define the seamless links with community, area enterprise and other educational institutions. The learning environment extends well beyond the edge of our campus and being part of a community makes us a resource for all learners,. In support of our values and in keeping with its mission, Cascadia makes a consistent effort to fully bridge the gap across educational experiences for learners.
Objective #1: Strengthen engagement with other educational institutions.
Outcome: Area high school students complete more college credits.
Indicator of Effectiveness:
• Additional courses offered in conjunction with the College in the High School plan.
Outcome: Students seeking a 4 year degree transfer at higher rate with partnerships.
Indicator of Effectiveness:
• Partnership agreements with four-year institutions. Add 2 agreements per year for the next 2 years and then establish reasonable level for partnership attainment based on completions and acceptance rate at the receiving institutions.
Objective #2: Form and sustain partnerships to create opportunities for learners.
Outcome: Course offerings based on industry participation for both credit and noncredit.
Indicator of Effectiveness:
• Develop one course per year in response to industry demand for non-credit.
• Industry participation in the form of advisory councils for workforce programs.
Outcome: Industry support of technology enhances learning.
Indicator of Effectiveness:
• Increasing dollar value of industry contributions of hardware and software.