Dr. Kevin Lasher Institutional effectiveness refers to a formal system in which a department or program establishes specific goals, determines how well these goals are achieved, and uses assessment results to improve educational programs. Institutional effectiveness has become a major concern in the 1990s as reaccreditation agencies, state governments, and students and parents have forced universities and colleges to answer questions about the quality of the educational experience being provided. What information and skills are students expected to acquire. What activities are faculty expected to undertake in the area of teaching, research and service.
Assessment focuses on the effectiveness of the program.
To be most useful, the answers to these questions should be reported in measurable terms. Change refers to those modifications in the program which flow from the assessment results. Program modifications generally should involve substantive changes in curriculum, course requirements, methods of instruction, or other aspects of faculty activity. The Political Science program of Francis Marion University has had a formal Institutional Effectiveness plan since June 1997. The program's IE Plan, the two IE Reports, and other IE information is available below.