General Education course assessments at Doña Ana Community College follow a six-year cycle designed to ensure consistent and meaningful evaluation of essential skills across all course content areas. In alignment with the State of New Mexico’s updated model of general education, DACC emphasizes the development of five essential skills: communication, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, information and digital literacy, and personal and social responsibility. The state has adopted two general education models—one for applied associate degrees and another for bachelor’s degrees and all other associate degrees. (For more information, visit New Mexico Higher Education Department – General Education.)

Each general education content area is associated with three of these essential skills, which must be assessed at least once every three years using representative samples from all course sections over a six-year cycle. Assessments are conducted using Canvas Outcomes Rubrics to collect college-wide data, while instructors integrate essential skills into course content and design assignments that promote their development. Departments use general education assessment rubrics to evaluate learning, conduct authentic assessments, and submit annual assessment plans and reflections. These reflections respond to assessment data, identify disparities, and guide continuous improvement. Periodic assessment and recertification help ensure effective instruction and support student success in mastering the essential skills.

NMHED Content Areas and Essential Skills
Communication Communication Critical Thinking Information and Digital Literacy	Mathematics Communication Critical Thinking Quantitative Reasoning	Science Critical Thinking Personal and Social Responsibility Quantitative Reasoning
Social and Behavioral Science Communication Critical Thinking Personal and Social Responsibility	Humanities Critical Thinking Information and Digital Literacy Personal and Social Responsibility	Creative and Fine Arts Communication Critical Thinking Personal and Social Responsibility

This table includes a list of the 6 content areas and the 3 essential skills that are associated with each content area.

General Education Assessment Resources

The DACC General Education Assessment committee has developed a six-year course assessment plan, which includes two three-year cycles, and began in the 2022-2023 academic year. The 2022-2027 General Education Assessment Plan (including the General Education Rubrics) can be found here.

General Education Sample Assessment Assignments

How-to Videos

Importing the DACC General Education Outcomes Rubric: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMBlqDn3zaA

DACC General Education Rubric with Points (Rubric Points: https://youtu.be/UAEHavKMrl0

Using the DACC General Education Rubric without Points: https://youtu.be/UAEHavKMrl0

Using the General Education Rubric – Instructor Criteria for Grading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQVcpwBS5Gs

How to Import and Assess using the Outcomes Rubric