Committee on University Effectiveness

Working Group on Institutional Assessment

April 9, 2012

Proposed “Next Steps” for the Team Develop formal guidelines for Institutional

Assessment Done – Review and discuss today

Develop required templates and instructions, and/or recommend software solutions (e.g. TracDat) Done – Review and discuss template & TracDat today

Meet with units to explain procedures, and provide continuing advice on an “as needed” basis In progress (SDCL), with 6 remaining Divisions upcoming

Monitor unit activities, and prepare an annual report on Institutional Assessment In progress (SDCL) with assessment results expected

2012-13

Proposed Guidelines for Divisions Steps emerging from SDCL experience:

Map Divisional priorities and responsibilities to the new University Strategic Plan Goals, Objectives, and Sub-Objectives

Determine which Planning Unit(s) will be linked to each Sub-Objective that the Division has decided is central to its mission

Request that Planning Units submit assessment plans to CUE for each Sub-Objective they have been assigned [w/training]

CUE reviews submitted assessment plans, requests revisions (if needed), and approves entry of plans into TracDat

Planning Units enter assessment plans, results, supporting data, and “next steps” (as needed) into TracDat [w/training]

Typical Steps at the Unit Level Units articulate their goals and objectives

Units define how they plan to measure progress, and identify data collection methods (ideally, more than one)

Units collect and analyze data, identifying areas of success (for possible expansion), and areas needing improvement (with action plans)

Units “close the loop” by reporting on changes they made based on the data, and the impact of those changes

Proposed Template for Divisions Identify Planning Units and responsible

persons Review all Strategic Plan goals, objectives,

and sub-objectives for relevance to Division’s mission

Assign Planning Units to address sub-objectives the Division deems to be relevant

Identify Division-specific goals and objectives that may not be addressed in the University’s Strategic Plan

Assign Planning Units to address these Division-specific objectives