Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) occur at three levels. 

  • CSLOs (Course Student Learning Outcomes) - describe the knowledge and skills students develop by the end of a course
  • PSLOs (Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes) - describe the knowledge and skills students develop by the end of a degree or certification program
  • ISLOs (Institutional Student Learning Outcomes) - describe knowledge, skill, abilities, and attitudes that students develop from all aspects of their college experience including courses, programs, departments, and services

Why are Student Learning Outcomes important?

  1. SLOs communicate what students will get out of the course, programs, and degrees.
  2. SLOs provide a way for faculty to communicate to students, employers, etc. what faculty intended for students to learn from a course they take, program or degree they complete. 
  3. SLOs are a guide for:
    • planning or redesigning a course.
    • the instructor what students will need to demonstrate that they have mastered the outcomes
    • selecting course instructional activities
    • planning/assessment tool for program/departments
    • planning institutional assessment and accreditation

“The most important outcome of education is to help students become independent of formal education”

-Paul Gray