Assessment allows the University to gauge its own performance levels for continuous improvement and institutional quality. The assessment plan establishes a link to the university mission; identifies goals and purposes of academic programs and administrative/support departments; determines levels of efficiency and effectiveness; and organizes the assessment strategies that are already occurring. Regular assessment of academic programs and administrative/support units provides documentation of meeting specific program and unit goals and objectives. In addition to the assessment report on student learning outcomes, an overall evaluation of academic programs and academic departments occurs annually, to include enrollment, graduation rates, retention, staffing, etc. to ensure that all academic programs remain viable and maintain the highest standards.
Assessment Formats
The Academic Program Assessment format identifies the goals for each academic program; describes specific student learning outcomes; identifies criteria for measuring success and establishes benchmarks; identifies results; and demonstrates how results will be used for continuous improvement. Academic Program Assessment Reports focus on student learning outcomes, but may include overall programmatic productivity.
The Administrative/Support Unit Assessment format identifies the primary function or purpose of each administrative/support department through goals and objectives; identifies criteria for measuring success and establishes benchmarks, where applicable; identifies results; and demonstrates how those results will be used for continuous improvement. Administrative/Support Assessment Reports focus on program effectiveness and productivity.
The General Education Program assessment format identifies each of the college level competencies within the GEC and the various methodologies and benchmarks for each. The report for the GEC provides evidence of student performance for each competency and any actions as follow up for continuous improvement.
Assessment Calendar
A schedule has been developed that allots time for:
- training on the assessment process, to include updates to the process;
- submission of plans and reports;
- reviewing and revising plans; and
- reviewing reports in preparation for developing the next year’s plan.
