6.8.3 | Policy Statement

 

6.8.3.1 | Definition & Purpose

 

Assessment at SU is a University wide unit based process to determine how well and in what ways individual units and the University are meeting their individual and collective goals. The organization charged to lead this effort, the Office of Quality Assurance and Institutional Research (QAIR), was established by the Administration and the University Senate in response to directives from the Ministry of Education and Culture and guidelines from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Assessment is an ongoing process, required of all units in the University and conducted by the members of each unit. QAIR is part of the program review process and will collect and analyze data to support planning activities at the University and unit level. The primary goal of these activities is to improve the educational programs at SU.

 

6.8.3.2 | Unit Responsibilities for Assessment

 

1. Each unit will define its goals in alignment with the University mission and Strategic Plan.  The following will then be evaluated:
   • Progress toward meeting its goals
   • The interaction between its academic programs, student services, and the campus environment and how these relate to achieving established goals
   • The results/effects of its goals on students.
2. Assessment is done to improve the quality of the University’s academic programs and services. The results of assessment are not used to determine funding or resource allocation.

 

6.8.3.3 | Assessment Plan

 

QAIR leads and coordinates the assessment plan for the University. Each unit will be asked to define its goals and methods of assessment by QAIR. This assessment/evaluation must be an ongoing process conducted by members of the unit and QAIR to evaluate the results of the programs, services, policies, and the planning of the unit. Specifically:

1. In coordination with QAIR, each unit will develop an assessment plan, identify methods for evaluating the results of their programs, services, and policies, and establish a timeline. The methods must go beyond grades and should result in giving information to the individual members of the unit, the unit as a whole, and to students.  Units will annually review current evaluation practices and consideration of alternative approaches.  Furthermore, units are encouraged to develop assessment methods that generate qualitative information rather than only quantitative data.
2. Student Affairs will assess the interaction between academic programs, student services and the campus environment (based on their engagement with students). Again, this assessment will generate qualitative and quantitative data.
3. Units will incorporate assessment efforts in the program review process (this includes both Academic Program Reviews and Non-Academic Program Reviews), and as part of the program review process, assessment will contribute to unit planning.
4. The Dean of each Faculty is responsible for ensuring that each unit in the Faculty develops and implements an assessment plan. The Head of General Education will be responsible for developing and implementing an assessment plan encompassing the General Education Core Curriculum.  Prior to a program’s self-study, each academic unit will be required to develop an assessment plan in collaboration with QAIR.  The resulting assessment plan produced by this collaboration will then be submitted to the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs for final review and approval.  Once final approval is granted, the unit will implement its plan as part of its assessment plan.  Data collected may become part of the program review process.
5. The Vice Rector for Academic Affairs will have the responsibility for ensuring that each academic unit develops and implements an assessment plan. Furthermore, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs will determine (through the program review process) if the University’s mission and goals are addressed by the academic units in the University.  Ensuring assessment in non-academic programs will be the responsibility of the appropriate Vice Rector.