All accreditation bodies emphasize the need for linkages between assessment and the planning process for improvement in teaching and learning. The institutional assessment plan requires both a clear delineation of assessment responsibilities and also a clear way for regular assessment and improvement to take place. The Commission is responsible for designing, conducting and reporting results of institution-wide assessment and for helping academic departments coordinate departmental assessment activities. This academic year, all academic departments have devised and begun to use departmental assessment plans. Each of these was reviewed by the Commission and will continue to be reviewed as departments follow and then revise these plans.
Faculty members play a key role in institutional and departmental assessment.
Regular departmental work must include ongoing discussion about how assessment results can improve student learning. The Commission will use assessment data and reports from individual departments to advise the Provost. At each Fall Convocation, academic departments will report on assessment activities and improvements to be made based on assessment results. The most difficult aspect of campus-wide assessment is coordinating the assessment of shared outcomes and goals. Each program has its own goals for student learning, which flow from OIT s overall mission.