Institutional Assessment Plan 2023-2027 Background A culture of assessment requires the commitment of all faculty, staff, and students to utilize data and information from assessment activities to determine the effectiveness of programs and services and how they contribute to the mission and values of the institution. The following guiding principles for assessment serve as a foundational base across the University: • Assessment is a collaborative process involving faculty, staff, students, alumni and administration. • Assessment is most effective when the programs cultivate evidence-based decisionmaking and a commitment to continuous improvement. • Assessment guided by the University’s mission statement, strategic plan, and accreditation needs ensures that the university meets its responsibilities to students and to the public. Developing a culture of assessment at the University involves the following strategies and activities: • Training programs and workshops on assessment practices for faculty, schools and programs, and administrators. • Assessment planning and monitoring at the school, program and university level. • Consistent and systematic review of student learning outcomes, curricular mapping and assessment plan monitoring by schools, programs and service units. • Annual assessment reporting by schools, programs and service units. • Institutional Assessment Committee (IAC) formation and advancement of the Institutional Assessment Plan goals. • Assessment reports and updates at school/program faculty meetings, Academic Council meetings, and Trustees meetings. • Accessible assessment resources for faculty and administrators. • Annual review of the institutional assessment plan by IAC and Institutional Effectiveness Committee (IEC). The former Institutional Assessment Plan (2019-2022) written by the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA) primarily focused on educational effectiveness; specifically, emphasizing the student academic experience and student success. Student support units were incorporated into the University’s assessment process in 2022 to support continuously improvement of University services.
Approved 1/11/23 rev. 3/18/25