HEA 540 ( Please Label each peer at the top with Class name and their name)
At San Diego Mesa College, program evaluation data must be presented in ways that match the needs of different stakeholder audiences. College leadership, faculty, staff, and students each rely on evaluation results for different purposes, making thoughtful data visualization and technology selection essential.
| Audience | Key Information of Interest | Appropriate Visualizations | Recommended Technologies |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Leadership | Enrollment trends, retention and graduation rates, alignment with strategic goals | Line graphs, bar charts, executive dashboards | PowerPoint, Tableau, institutional reports |
| Faculty and Academic Departments | Course success rates, persistence by program, instructional effectiveness | Bar charts, trend lines, comparative tables | Excel, Tableau, internal dashboards |
| Student Services and Support Units | Student engagement, utilization of services, retention outcomes | Bar charts, pie charts, heat maps | Excel, Power BI, student success platforms |
| Students and Community Stakeholders | Overall program outcomes, institutional impact | Simple charts, infographics | College website, PDFs, Canvas announcements |
Different visualization approaches are necessary because audiences vary in data literacy and decision-making authority. Senior leaders benefit from high-level summaries, while faculty and staff require more detailed data to inform instructional and support strategies. Clear and accessible visuals also promote transparency and accountability for students and the community.
Using appropriate technologies and visual formats supports informed decision-making and continuous improvement, both of which are central to effective program evaluation in higher education.
Richie
References
Bresciani, M. J. (2015). Outcomes-based academic and co-curricular program review: A compilation of institutional good practices. Stylus Publishing.
Palomba, C. A., & Banta, T. W. (2015). Assessment essentials: Planning, implementing, and improving assessment in higher education (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
San Diego Mesa College. (2025). Institutional research and planning. https://www.sdmesa.edu