Assessment Report Law Enforcement Academy

Transcription

1 Assessment Report Law Enforcement Academy Part I-Assessment Summary A. PROGRAM/DISCIPLINE MISSION STATEMENT It is the mission of the Law Enforcement Academy to provide students with a learning centered, intensive course of study that prepares students for entry into the law enforcement profession. The Academy focuses on student learning while meeting the requirements of the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (P.O.S.T.) for certification as a peace officer. B. INTENDED OUTCOMES 1. Each student will demonstrate written communication skills which are necessary for success in the law enforcement profession and is identified by the college as a priority general education outcome. GEN ED 2. Each student will demonstrate knowledge and application of Colorado law which is necessary for success in the law enforcement profession. 3. Each student will demonstrate firearms shooting skills which are necessary for success and survival in the law enforcement profession. 4. Each student will demonstrate automobile driving skills which are necessary for success and survival in the law enforcement profession. 5. Each student will demonstrate arrest-control skills which are necessary for success and survival in the law enforcement profession. B. BENCHMARK These are higher benchmarks established by the P.O.S.T and the Academy program this year. At least 90% of each academy s students will achieve an individual score equivalent to a passing score in each assessed component. Passing scores for each component are as follows: POST Test Results 70% Writing for Law Enforcement 75% Law Enforcement Basic Law 75% Law Enforcement Defensive Driving 70% Law Enforcement Firearms 80% Law Enforcement Arrest Control 80%

2 D. ASSESSMENT RESULTS 1. HISTORICAL CONTEXT The Law Enforcement Academy includes 666 hours of lecture, practical exercises and scenario based training. Academy students must obtain a passing score in report writing and basic law to graduate from the academy. In addition, they must demonstrate through a written test and practical exercises that they have sufficient knowledge to safely perform as a police officer in arrest control, defensive driving and fireams training. After they have demonstrated a profiency in these areas, they can take the P.O.S.T. test to become a state certified police officer. The curriculum and standards are established by P.O.S.T., the certifying agency. They are reviewed by law enforcement experts in each of the program areas on a yearly basis. The academy continues to strive to improve student learning and improve the overall academy experience. A scenario room has been established in the North building to give candidates and instructors a real life feel to their curriculum. This room is used for practical exercises in handling of domestic violence situations, critical incidents scenarios and escalation and deescalation training. The room is set up like a family room in a typical household. The visual and practical aspects of this training has been well received by the students. The active participation by the students generates discussion and additional what if scenarios. The continued move toward scenario-based training has enhanced the overall learning experience of the student. It appears that it also enhances their analyitical skills in other scenario-based training and practical skills related to the academy requirements. 2. CURRENT YEAR DATA RESULTS POST Test Results: The P.O.S.T. Test is the certification exam which prospective law enforcement officers must take prior to becoming certified law enforcement officers and prior to employment. Students cannot take the POST examination prior to successfully passing the components identified in Outcomes 2-5. The exam is administered twice a year: once in fall and once in spring. Students must score 70% or higher in order to pass. Academic Year : Fall 2005: Forty graduates took the P.O.S.T. examination. Thirty-six passed on the first attempt, two passed on their second attempt, one more passed

3 subsequently on his/her third attempt, and one did not pass after three attempts. Passing Rate = 98% Spring 2006: Thirty graduates took the P.O.S.T. examination. Twenty-five passed on the first attempt. Four students passed on their second attempt and one student did not pass after three attempts. Passing Rate = 97% Academic Year : Fall 2006 Academy A: Nineteen graduates took the POST examination. Nineteen passed the exam. Passing rate = 100% Spring 2007 Academy B: Twenty one graduates took the POST examination. Twenty passed the examination. Passing rate= 95% Fall 2006-Spring 2007 Academy C (part time): Fourteen graduates took the POST examination. Fourteen passed the examination. Passing rate=100% The benchmark of 90% of students attaining a passing score was met for all academies. It should be noted that two students in the Spring 2007 Academy did not graduate from the academy due to poor grades in the report writing and Basic law components. They did not qualify to take the POST test. The following table and the graph on the next page compare the P.O.S.T. exam scores within one academic year and the previous academic year: Fall 05 Spring 06 Fall 06 Spring 07 Academy A 98% 97% Academy B 95% Academy C 100% 100%

4 Comparison Chart Academic Years Fall 05/ Spring 06/ Spring 07 P.O.S.T. Exam 100% 90% 80% Academy A Academy B 70% Fall 05 Spring 06 Fall 06 Spring 07 Academy C 3. ANALYSIS Outcome 1: Report Writing The Law Enforcement Academy Report Writing class includes instruction in the principles of police report writing, communication theory and basic English grammar, syntax, and spelling. Academic Year Fall 2005 Academy A: Twenty-one students took the Report Writing class. Twenty passed and one failed. Passing rate = 95% Fall 2005 Academy B: Nineteen students took the Report Writing class. All students passed and zero failed. Passing rate = 100% Spring 2006 Academy A: Twelve students took the Report Writing class. Eleven passed and one failed. Passing rate = 92% Fall 2005/Spring 2006 Academy C: Nineteen students took the Report Writing class. Eighteen passed and one failed. Passing rate = 95% Academic Year Fall 2006 Academy A: Nineteen students took the Report Writing class. Nineteen passed. Passing rate=100%

5 Spring 2007 Academy B: Twenty five students took the Report Writing class. Twenty three passed. Passing rate =92% Fall 2006-Spring 2007 Academy C (part time): Sixteen students took the Report Writing class. Fifteen passed. Passing rate=94% The benchmark of 90% of students attaining a passing score of 75% was met for all academies. Outcome 2: Basic Law The Law Enforcement Academy: Basic Law class includes instruction in United States Constitution; Arrest; search and seizure; interrogation and confessions; rules of evidence; Colorado Criminal Code; Colorado Children s code; victim s rights; Liquor Code and controlled substances. Students must achieve a passing cumulative score (75%) in this course component to graduate from the academy. Academic year : Fall 2005 Academy A: Twenty-one students took the Basic Law class. Twenty-one students passed and zero failed. Passing Rate = 100% Fall 2005 Academy B: Nineteen students took the Basic Law class. Nineteen students passed and zero failed. Passing Rate = 100% Spring 2006 Academy A: Twelve students took the Report Writing class. Eleven students passed. Passing Rate= 92% Fall 2005/Spring 2006 Academy C: Nineteen students took the Basic Law class. Nineteen students passed and zero failed. Passing Rate = 100% Academic year : Fall 2006 Academy A: Nineteen students took the Basic Law class. Nineteen passed. Passing rate=100% Spring 2007 Academy B: Twenty five students took the Basic Law class. Twenty three passed. Passing rate=92% Fall 2006-Spring 2007 Academy C (part time): Sixteen students took the Basic Law class. Fifteen passed. Passing rate=94%

6 The benchmark of 90% of students attaining a passing score of 75% was met for this component in all academies. Outcomes 3, 4, and 5: Skills Assessments The Law Enforcement Academy has three primary skills areas: Firearms, Driving and Arrest control. Each student will demonstrate firearms shooting skills, automobile driving skills, and arrest control skills, all of which are necessary for success and survival in the law enforcement profession. Students must achieve a passing score of at least 70% in the driving skill component and 80% for Firearms and Arrest Control components. Each of these skills areas are assessed through written examination and practical application. Firearms (Outcome 3) Academic Year : Fall 2005 Academy A: Twenty one students took this examination. Twenty one students passed and zero failed. Passing Rate = 100%. Fall 2005 Academy B: Nineteen students took the two-phase examination. Nineteen passed both the practical and written components of the firearms examination and zero failed. Overall passing rate = 100% Spring 2006 Academy A: Twelve students took the examination. Twelve students passed and zero students failed. Passing Rate= 100%. Fall 2005/Spring 2006 Academy C: Nineteen students took the two-phase examination. Nineteen students passed and zero failed. Passing Rate= 100% Academic year : Fall 2006 Academy A: Nineteen students took the two-phase examination. Nineteen passed. Passing rate=100% Spring 2007 Academy B: Twenty five students took the two-phase examination. Twenty four passed. Passing rate=96% Fall 2006-Spring 2007 Academy C (part time): Sixteen students took the two phase examination. Fifteen passed. Passing rate=94%

7 The benchmark of 90% of students attaining a passing score of 80% was met for this component in all academies. Automobile (Defensive) Driving (Outcome 4) Academic Year : Fall 2005 Academy A: Twenty-one students took the Defensive Driving twophase examination. Twenty-one passed and zero failed. Passing Rate = 100% Fall 2005 Academy B: Nineteen students took the Defensive Driving twophase examination. Nineteen students passed and zero failed. Passing Rate = 100% Spring 2006 Academy A: Twelve students took the "Defensive Driving" twophase examination. Twelve passed and zero failed. Passing Rate = 100%. Fall 2005/Spring 2006 Academy C: Nineteen students took the "Defensive Driving" two-phase examination. Nineteen students passed and zero failed. Passing Rate = 100% Academic year Fall 2006 Academy A: Nineteen students took the Defensive Driving two phase examination. Nineteen passed. Passing rate=100% Spring 2007 Academy B: Twenty five students took the Defensive Driving two- phase examination. Twenty five passed. Passing rate=100% Fall 2006-Spring 2007 Academy C (part time): Sixteen students took the Defensive Driving two- phase examination. Sixteen passed. Passing rate=100% The benchmark of 90% of students attaining a passing score of 70% was met for this component.

8 Arrest Control (Outcome 5) Academic Year : Fall 2005 Academy A: There were twenty one students who took the examination. All students passed. Passing Rate = 100% Fall 2005 Academy B: Nineteen students took the examination. Nineteen students passed. Passing Rate = 100% Spring 2006 Academy A: Twelve students took the examination. Nineteen students passed. Passing Rate = 100%. Spring 2006 Academy C: Nineteen students took the examination. Nineteen students passed. Passing Rate= 100%. Academic year : Fall 2006 Academy A: Nineteen students took the two phase Arrest Control examination. Nineteen students passed. Passing rate=100% Spring 2007 Academy B: Twenty five students took the two phase Arrest Control examination. Twenty five passed. Passing rate 100% Fall 2006-Spring 2007 Academy C (part time): Sixteen students took the two phase Arrest Control examination. Sixteen students passed. Passing rate 100% The benchmark of 90% of students attaining a passing score of 80% was met for this component in all academies.

9 The following charts compare the five learning outcomes over two academic years: Academic School Years Comparison: Full Time Academies A and B 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Report Writing Basic Law Firearms Defensive Driving Arrest Control Fall 05 Academy A Fall 05 Academy B Spring 06 Academy A Fall 06 Academy A Spring 07 Academy B Academic Year Comparisons: Part Time Academy C 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Report Writing Basic Law Firearms Defensive Driving Arrest Control Fall 05/Spring 06 Fall 06/Spring 07

10 The Law enforcement Academy students continue to perform at a very high level as indicated in the learning outcome graphs. The report writing and basic law classes seem to give the students the most difficulty. Report writing is a difficult course because the writing style is different from any other form of writing most students have learned in the past. It is an acquired skill to write strictly factual reports without any embellishment or opinion. In addition, we are seeing a more diverse student base in language and in culture. English is often a second language rather than their primary language. This has an impact not only on the report writing component, but also the student s ability to communicate, process and interpret our laws in the basis law component. The academy staff strives to identify these students who may need additional tutoring in the English language during the applicant screening process and throughout the academy. The Basic Law course provides students with comprehensive, in depth examination of Colorado Revised Statutes. The academy staff continues to encourage students to use the Knowledge Factor tutorial, study groups, simple flash cards, and scenario-based examples to help them apply the legal knowledge that they have acquired to the situations they may face as a police officer. The law class is the most important course of instruction that an academy student will receive. A police officer must know the law and be able to apply the law correctly as they are charged with enforcing, protecting and working within the law every day. Over the past year, the academy staff has invited the preceeding class president to address the class about academy survival and specifically about the law class. The use of Knowledge Factor, study groups and preparation, preparation, preparation have been the keys to student success. One former class president and top academic student confided in the class that he did not pass the POST test on the first attempt. The student told the class that he thought if he passed the academy law class, he could pass the POST examination without additional effort. He learned that the POST test is more comprehensive and requires additional preparation. The impact of having a former student tell that story goes much further than the warnings of an instructor. E. USE OF RESULTS The results of this assessment will be considered in future strategic planning as appropriate. In addtion, the Law Enforcement Academy staff will continue to informally survey past and present instructors and students for their input in improving the quality of instruction they are giving or receiving. The report writing and basic law classes will be the main focus of these discussions. Instructors will be encouraged to include scenario-based training in their curiculum as an additional tool to reach these adult learners and enhance the overall academy experience.

11 The Academy staff will continue to update and seek the input of our advisory committee each semester as well as departments who hire our students. Our advisory staff are experts in the law enforcement field and are very much in touch with the needs of their departments and how ACC can help narrow the gap between academy education and workforce needs. Overall, the assessment results demonstrate the quality of instruction at Arapahoe Community College s law enforcement academy. The reputation of this academy continues to grow. More and more departments are seeking ACC quality students and actively recruit our ACC graduates.

12 Part II Assessment Plan A. Intended Outcomes 1. Each student will demonstrate written communication skills which are necessary for success in the law enforcement profession and is identified by the college as a priority general education outcome. GEN ED 2. Each student will demonstrate knowledge and application of Colorado law which is necessary for success in the law enforcement profession. 3. Each student will demonstrate firearms shooting skills which are necessary for success and survival in the law enforcement profession. 4. Each student will demonstrate automobile driving skills which are necessary for success and survival in the law enforcement profession. 5. Each student will demonstrate arrest-control skills which are necessary for success and survival in the law enforcement profession. B. Identify Assessment Procedures/Methods 1. A.C.C. s Law Enforcement Academy P.O.S.T. examination results (score averages; pass-fail rates) will be compared to prior test results for patterns of consistency or divergence. 2. The Law Enforcement Academy report writing/communication component overall scores will be compared to prior year final scores and benchmark for patterns of consistency or divergence. (Outcome 1) 3. The Law Enforcement Academy law overall component scores will be compared to prior academy overall score results for patterns of consistency or divergence. (Outcome 2) 4. The Law Enforcement Academy firearms skills (written test and practical performance applications) component scores will be compared to prior academy course final scores for patterns of consistency or divergence. (Outcome 3) 5. The Law Enforcement Academy automobile driving (written test and practical performance applications scored via checklist) component scores will be compared to prior academy course final scores for patterns of consistency and divergence. (Outcome 4)

13 5. The Law Enforcement Academy arrest control skills (written test and practical applications scored via checklist) component scores will be compared to prior academy course final scores for patterns of consistency or divergence. (Outcome 5) C. Benchmark At least 90% of each academy s students will achieve an individual score equivalent to a passing score in each assessed component. Passing scores for each component are as follows: POST Test Results 70% Writing for Law Enforcement 75% Law Enforcement Basic Law 75% Law Enforcement Defensive Driving 70% Law Enforcement Firearms 80% Law Enforcement Arrest Control 80% No budget worksheet was submitted with this plan.