Student success and institutional effectiveness go hand in hand at Dominican. Institutional Effectiveness encompasses a wide range of equity-based evaluation and assessment activities for the purposes of active reflection, strategic planning, and continuous improvement.
There are four sections describing our data:
- University Facts
- Student Learning
- Student Experience and Achievement
- Career Outcomes
University Facts
The University Facts provides a comprehensive look at who our students are and what they study, as well as their persistence and completion rates.
Student Learning
At Dominican, students explore purpose and meaning through breadth of knowledge in general education and a depth of knowledge in majors and graduate study. Learning outcomes are important in developing and assessing students’ knowledge, skills, and abilities as they advance through the core curriculum, as well as within their specific fields of study.
The Institutional Learning Outcomes represent our commitment that every Dominican Graduate will have the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills, and personal capabilities throughout their studies and experiences.
Goal: Exploration and Acquisition of Knowledge |
Goal: Practice of Civic Skills and Social Responsibility |
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Students explore: Purpose and meaning through breadth of knowledge in general education and a depth of knowledge in majors and graduate study. |
Students gain skills to become global citizens who act within diverse contexts. Students practice:
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Goal: Development of intellectual, professional and artistic skills |
Goal: Cultivation of Well-Being |
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Students prepare for a successful life and career through research and practical application of skills. Students develop:
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Students engage in personal development to build resilience and support the flourishing of self and others. Students cultivate:
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Each undergraduate and graduate program has a link to their learning outcomes on their program page as well as the course catalog.
Dominican students have multiple opportunities to make their learning visible. The pages below highlight some examples:
Student Experience and Achievement
During their time at Dominican, students are immersed in personal development opportunities to build resilience and support the flourishing of self and others, while becoming prepared for a successful life and career through research and practical application of skills. Through the four high-impact practices of the Dominican Experience, as well as additional opportunities to engage more broadly with the campus and the greater community, students are empowered to persist and complete their degree.
The Dominican Experience is designed for the twenty-first century student –– the thinker, the doer, the artist, the activist, the trailblazer, the entrepreneur –– from every walk of life.
Engaged learning is an area of distinction for Dominican. Students have multiple opportunities to participate in research, events, community service, groups, clubs, activities, and more. The pages below highlight some examples:
What is the NSSE?
The National Survey of Student Engagement collects important information about first-year and senior students' participation in programs for their learning and personal development. The results provide valuable insights into how students spend their time and what they gain from attending Dominican.
Senior engagement in high-impact practices
Percentage of senior respondents who reported participating in the following high-impact practices (HIPs) during their time at Dominican:
| Participation in 2+ HIPs | 77% |
|---|---|
| Community-Based Project/Service-Learning | 76% |
| Internship or Field Experience | 70% |
| Culminating Senior Experience | 68% |
| Research with Faculty | 38% |
| Learning Community | 29% |
| Study Abroad | 21% |
Areas of greatest gains from Dominican education:
Senior respondents reported that their educational experience at Dominican most greatly contributed to their knowledge, skills, and ability toward “Working effectively with others.” The table below displays additional areas of growth identified by senior respondents who said that their experience at Dominican contributed “very much” or “quite a bit” toward each area.
| Working Effectively with Others | 88% |
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| Thinking Critically and Analytically | 87% |
| Writing Clearly and Effectively | 82% |
| Job- or Work-Related Knowledge/Skills | 77% |
| Solving Complex Real-World Problems | 70% |
Career Outcomes
Dominican educates and prepares students to become ethical leaders and socially responsible global citizens who incorporate the Dominican values of study, reflection, community, and service into their lives. Upon graduation, alumni enter a variety of fulfilling career paths and/or courses of study to continue their education.
Read about recent alumni success in our News Hub.
All information for this section was reported by 2017-18 Dominican graduates who participated in The Outcomes Survey one year after graduation.
Top industries of employment include:
- Healthcare/Health Services
- Education
- Biotechnology
- Medicine
- Sciences
- Banking
- Marketing
- Non-Profit/Philanthropy
Select employers of 2017-18 graduates:
- 360 Concepts
- Adventist Health
- Aether Management Services
- Alkahest
- Aurora Santa Rosa Hospital
- Boost Biomes
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging
- California Hand Rehabilitation
- California State Assembly-Marc Levine
- City of Oakland
- Colorado State University
- Contra Costa County
- County of Marin
- John Muir Behavioral Health
- Kaiser Permanente
- Kaweah Delta health center
- Kentfield School District
- Marin Community Clinic
- Marin County District Attorney Office
- Marin General
- Novato Unified School District
- Outdoor Autism and Special Issues School
- Providence St. Joseph
- San Jose Unified School District
- San Rafael City Schools
- Sport & Spine Therapy of Marin
- Sutter Health
- Tamalpais Union High School District
- The Mayo Clinic
Top areas of study for Dominican graduates who continued their education in graduate programs include:
- Health professions and related programs
- Business, management, marketing, and related support services
- Biological and biomedical sciences
- Education
- Psychology
Sample of graduate schools that 2017-18 Dominican graduates attend:
- Colorado State University
- Georgetown University
- San Francisco State University
- Touro University California
- University of California Davis
- University of San Francisco
- University of Washington
Graduates who reported the contribution of their education in allowing them to affect various post-graduate outcomes said that Dominican had the most considerable influence on their “Personal Enrichment.” The table below displays additional areas of growth identified by alumni who said that their experience at Dominican was “Very helpful” or “Helpful” in achieving each outcome. (Please note, percentages do not include students who responded, “Have not yet formed an opinion.”)
| Personal Enrichment | 93% |
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| Professional Prestige | 84% |
| Impact on Society | 81% |
| Job Satisfaction | 81% |
| Employment Opportunities | 77% |
All information for this section was reported by 2017-2018 Dominican graduates who participated in The Outcomes Survey one year after graduation.
