Planning and Assessment

An assessment is the systematic collection and examination of information to determine progress toward a specific goal. The process of assessment fuels efforts for continuous improvement, as academic programs and support units use assessment findings to determine whether intended outcomes were achieved and how best to improve future performance.

Assessments ares conducted to ensure that we are constantly focused on improving the learning experience. Academic programs must conduct assessments to improve student learning and establish a strong scholastic reputation. Support units also must perform assessments to promote reliable services and efficient business practices. While assessments are required by accrediting bodies, they are also intrinsic to the nature of higher education, and serve as an essential tool that affords us the ability to evaluate how we are doing and what we can do to improve.

Faculty and staff assess student learning outcomes and program outcomes throughout the year. We document our findings in the fall of each year through the Office of Planning and Assessment.

1. For academic outcomes that require funding, the college, in consultation with its faculty, will develop a funding priority list. For program outcomes that require funding, the divisions/colleges with consultation with their respective units will develop a division/college level funding priority list. College and divisional leadership will use assessment data in prioritization.
2. Programs and support units enter funding requests into the Funding Request form. Forms require assessment outcomes to be listed on the request.
3. The colleges and divisions forward their priority lists to leadership (President, Provost, VPs, etc.). The combined funding priorities will go through the shared governance process for review and recommendation to the President.