Academic Program Outcomes

Students are informed of institutional-level outcomes, program-level outcomes, and course-level outcomes in the following ways:

• Institutional Outcomes are published below
• Program Outcomes are published in the Academic Catalog within each program section
• Course Outcomes are published in course descriptions within this catalog and in each course syllabus

Institutional Outcomes (ILO)

(Updated April 2026)

Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILO) identify Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design’s overarching goals and competencies, which include cultural competence, communication competence, design competence, and critical thinking. These outcomes further support and advance RMCAD’s Mission Statement. RMCAD’s Institutional, Programmatic, and Course-level Learning Outcomes are determined by the Program Review and Assessment Committee, the faculty, and the Program Department Chairs. The Curriculum Committee provides the final approval for all academic learning outcomes.

RMCAD-ILO 1 Technical Proficiency + Creative Artistry

Graduates will synthesize analog and digital technical proficiencies with artistic intent to produce innovative and original creative work.

RMCAD-ILO 2 Critical Inquiry + Problem-Solving

Graduates will integrate research, analysis, and critical inquiry to design innovative solutions to complex perceptual and conceptual problems.

RMCAD-ILO 3 Communication + Storytelling

Graduates will communicate ideas effectively through written, verbal, visual, and digital formats, employing narrative and evidence tailored to specific audiences.

RMCAD-ILO 4 Cultural + Historical Perspectives 

Graduates will investigate how culture and social norms shape ideas and engage with perspectives different from, or in conflict with, their own; students will evaluate cultural, societal, historical, and institutional factors influencing assumptions, prejudices, and privileges.

RMCAD-ILO 5 Professionalism + Agency

Graduates will exercise multifaceted judgment, take initiative, and act with ethical integrity to navigate complex professional and collaborative environments.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program outcomes represent broad statements that incorporate many areas of interrelated knowledge and skills developed throughout the program through a wide range of courses and experiences. Program learning outcomes represent the big picture, describe broad aspects of practical understanding and demonstrated behavior, and encompass multiple learning experiences. Program learning outcomes directly support institutional learning outcomes. The program learning outcomes are published in the catalog under the Program Degrees.

Course Learning Outcomes

Course learning outcomes are the broad objectives reached at the conclusion of a course or term-level class. Course learning outcomes directly support program and institutional learning outcomes. These are published on the course syllabus and in the “Course Descriptions” located in the RMCAD catalog.

Course Numbering Rationale

Course numbering conventions: The first two digits represent the department code (see Table 1 below). The alpha abbreviation indicates the home program. Courses may be shared in cross-disciplinary programs. The following numerical digits represent the course level and the specific course number as assigned by Academic Operations. Some courses may have an additional suffix designator to distinguish among special topics courses or for other administrative designations. If a course is discontinued or the course number is changed, that course number may not be used for a different course for at least 10 years.

Course Numbering System

Rubrics

RMCAD utilizes rubrics that serve as a scoring tool explicitly describing the criteria, descriptors, and performance levels associated with learning outcomes.

• Program Learning Outcome Rubrics include the criterion for the broad learning achieved at the conclusion of a program. Program Learning Outcome Rubrics are utilized by the department to gauge the overall performance of its graduates in various activities such as portfolio reviews.
• Course Learning Outcome Rubrics include the criteria for course learning outcomes, the descriptors, and definitions identifying the characteristics tied with each criterion, and a rating scale for performance levels that identifies learners’ levels of proficiency within each criterion. Course Learning Outcome Rubrics include program and institutional outcome alignment. Rubrics for Art Education and Interior Design also include programmatic accreditation alignment. Course Learning Outcome Rubrics are utilized by the department in activities related to course-level learning assessment.
• Grading Rubrics serve to provide feedback to students on a multitude of activities such as assignments in the form of papers, projects, and presentations. Grading rubrics distill the course learning outcomes and apply them to specific assignments identifying the criterion for a given assignment, the descriptors, and definitions identifying the characteristics tied with each criterion, and a rating scale for performance levels that identifies learners’ levels of proficiency within each criterion as evidenced in the assignment. Grading rubrics provide students with specific elements of criterion with which they may focus on continuous improvement.

Assessment, End-of-Course Evaluations, + Student Satisfaction Surveys

The Program Review + Assessment Committee (PRAC) oversees all learning outcome assessment activities and Academic Program Review (see the Academic Affairs Handbook for more information). These assessment activities measure the overall achievement of program and course learning outcomes across a multitude of learners whereas individual student grades provide students with particular information about their unique academic progress and achievement.

Learning assessment activities conducted by the Program Review + Assessment Committee (PRAC) inform faculty and departments of the quality and accessibility of the curriculum and instruction. Through these evaluation activities, faculty and departments can identify action steps toward improving overall student learning.

All students are encouraged to complete End-of-Course Surveys. Enrolled students receive invitations to utilize these course evaluations through their @rmcad.edu e-mail accounts.

Evaluations are anonymous. End-of-Course Surveys address course content, instructional methodology, and student experience, and provide a mechanism for students to engage in curricular and instructional improvement. End-of-Course Surveys serve to apprise faculty and departments of individual and collective student feedback which will inform decision-making and future action steps for improvement.

RMCAD periodically administers Student Satisfaction Surveys and encourages all students to participate in these evaluation activities when they occur.

Learning Outcome Changes

Changes to Institutional, Program, and Course Learning Outcomes must be vetted and approved by the Curriculum Committee before implementation into the curriculum.