Mission and Goals for the Assessment (Testing) Center
Three units of the Assessment Center are available at Georgia Highlands College, covering the following instructional sites:
- Cartersville
- Floyd and Douglasville
- Marietta and Paulding
Mission
The Assessment Center schedules and proctors the major institutional tests for GHC. The kinds of tests provided support the various academic goals of the college. For instance, the COMPASS placement and exit tests advance the goal of providing learning support programs and insuring that all students have the opportunity to be adequately prepared for college-level work. The Assessment Center provides the SAT On-Campus test primarily for students who wish to enter GHC's Nursing and Dental Hygiene programs, supporting career programs that complement community needs. By providing proctoring services for GHC's eLearning classes that validate student identities and promote test security across sites, the Assessment Center contributes to the use of technology as a teaching and learning tool. Make-up tests for instructors support the goal of providing top-notch teaching and learning, allowing students to make up work missed due to absence if instructors permit.
Goals
The goals of the Assessment Center are related to the following institutional goal(s) of GHC:
- Effect quality teaching and learning that are focused on academic achievement and personal and professional growth.
The Assessment Center will
1. Schedule and provide the following kinds of test each term
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COMPASS Placement Tests
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These tests are required for all entering students who are College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) deficient in English or Math and students who have no SAT or ACT scores or ones below the criteria for exempting the tests. Scores on COMPASS Placement Tests determine whether a student will need to take Learning Support (developmental) courses in English, Math, or Reading before proceeding to credit-level work.
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These tests are required for all entering students who are College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) deficient in English or Math and students who have no SAT or ACT scores or ones below the criteria for exempting the tests. Scores on COMPASS Placement Tests determine whether a student will need to take Learning Support (developmental) courses in English, Math, or Reading before proceeding to credit-level work.
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COMPASS Exit Tests
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These are the exit tests for exit-level Learning Support courses (ENGL 0099, MATH 0099, READ 0099)
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These are the exit tests for exit-level Learning Support courses (ENGL 0099, MATH 0099, READ 0099)
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Re-tests for both COMPASS Placement Tests and COMPASS Exit Tests
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All students are allowed two tries at COMPASS Placement Tests (unless the first test is so close to the start of classes that a re-test session cannot be scheduled) and two tries at COMPASS Exit Test.
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All students are allowed two tries at COMPASS Placement Tests (unless the first test is so close to the start of classes that a re-test session cannot be scheduled) and two tries at COMPASS Exit Test.
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Mid-term and final exams for GHC's eLearning courses at the instructor's option
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SAT On-Campus Tests (opens PDF file)
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Make-up Tests on specific dates
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Each Assessment Center makes available at least four dates per term on which make-up tests are given for instructors
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Each Assessment Center makes available at least four dates per term on which make-up tests are given for instructors
- Tests for the Independent Study System in the University System of Georgia
2. Provide test services at all GHC sites
3. Test students in a timely manner
4. Inform students of test outcomes as quickly as possible and meet the needs of other GHC divisions for score information
Evaluation of Goals for the Assessment Center
Information about the assessment of these goals can be found here.