Purpose of Assessment in Administrative Departments
MSCHE Accreditation Standard VI requires affiliated institutions “to continuously assess and improve its programs and services” and to provide evidence that assessment results are used to inform planning and continuous improvement.Annual assessment and 5-year program review processes support this accreditation standard. More importantly, however, they provide an opportunity for departments to reflect on their practices and analyze their effectiveness, particularly with respect to professional standards and best practices. Further, they demonstrate the extent to which a department is meeting the mission and strategic planning goals of the institution. Done well, assessment processes inform continuous improvement and evidence-based decisions.
Requirements and Expectations
All non-academic administrative departments should have clearly articulated goals and clearly identified assessment methods. Where appropriate, targets or benchmarks should be informed by the respective standards of each unit’s professional association. Departmental goals should be assessed on an annual basis. This assessment should provide clear evidence of how effectively the department achieved its goals.
Plans and results are due by June 30 of each year.
Non-academic departments are also required to complete a 5-year program review,
Annual Assessment Report
The annual assessment cycle includes an assessment of operational goals from the academic year that concludes on May 31 and an assessment plan for the academic year that begins on June 1. Assessment reports and plans should be submitted by June 30 of each year.All members of a department are expected to participate fully in the annual assessment and planning processes.
Department heads should meet with the respective vice presidents to review any significant assessment findings, discuss concerns related to assessment efforts, and communicate anticipated resource needs based on assessment evidence.
Assessment reports and plans from administrative departments are reviewed by the Institutional Effectiveness Committee, using a rubric that aligns with institutional requirements and describes the characteristics of effective assessment.
An online course (sites.google.com/utica.edu/uticaiec/home) is available for administrative units to familiarize themselves with the elements of an assessment plan and strategies for conducting effective assessments of their operations and services. Introduction to Assessment is an additional resource for administrative units, as is the Resource Guide for Assessment Plans and Reports.