Data Definitions and Terminology
Understanding FTEs, FTEF, and WSCH Metrics
Full-Time Equivalent Student (FTES)
FTES is a standard statewide measure of student enrollment at an academic department, or an institution. FTES is a key performance indicator, productivity measure, and funding rate. FTES represents neither student headcount nor student enrollment, but it is a conceptual measure of student enrollment. The formula to calculate FTES is expressed by the equation below:
FTES = (Census enrollment X Weekly student contact hours X Term Length Multiplier) / 525 where TLM = 16.5
Example: FTES for a 3 unit class with 30 students enrolled at census FTES = (30 x 3.38 hours/week x 16.5 weeks/semester) / 525 = 3.19
Full-Time Equivalent Faculty (FTEF)
In a FTEF, a faculty member’s actual workload is standardized against the teaching load. Thus, FTEF does not represent an actual number of faculty members; it is a conceptual measure workload at an academic department, or an institution. The formula to calculate FTEF is expressed by the equation below:
FTEF = WFCH / Contract teaching load of the discipline where WFCH = standard course hours Example: 3/15 = 0.20
Weekly Student Contact Hours (WSCH)
WSCH is acronym for weekly student contact hours. It presents a total number of hours faculty contacted students weekly in an academic department or an institution.
WSCH = census enrollment x class hours per week
WSCH per FTEF
The most commonly used efficiency/productivity measure is WSCH per FTEF (Weekly Student Contact Hours per Full-Time Equivalent Faculty). WSCH represents the total number of student contact hours per week; FTEF is calculated by taking total full-time and part-time faculty teaching load hours (adjusted by load factors, as appropriate) and dividing by the average fulltime faculty load (generally 15). The calculation is performed by dividing the WSCH number by the FTEF number. Since all of the numbers used in this calculation are related to in-classroom time, WSCH per FTEF is basically a measure of class size, and an average class size of 35 is generally accepted as an adequate goal. For colleges on a traditional calendar, a WSCH per FTEF of 525 represents an average class size of 35. Source: CIO Manual, CCCCO, pg. 43
Additional Resources:
Student Learning Objectives - ILO, GELO, PLO, CSLOs
The Outcome Assessment Workgroup has compiled a Expected Learning Outcomes at Modesto Junior College site to help aid in understanding what Student Learning Outcomes are, how they are mapped, and what their purpose is.
Listed here for ease of access are the GELO and ILOs for Modesto Junior College.