Get selected values from a select element with multiple = 'multiple'

get selected.js

function get_selected_values(select_element){
    /*
    Vanilla JS way of returning an array of selected elements from a 
    select element with multiple='mulitple'.
    Used to allow for multiple Evaluation Categories to be
    selected.
    */
    var result = [];
    var options = select_element && select_element.options;
    var opt;
    for (var i = 0, i_len = options.length; i < i_len; i++){
        opt = options[i];
        if (opt.selected){
            result.push(opt.value || opt.text);
        }
    }
    return result;
}