Educational Support and Administrative Areas Assessment
Areas that are not directly a part of the academic program (co-curricular and student support areas, as well as other administrative offices) will have goals and objectives for their non student learning-centered functions and activities. (Academic departments and programs have goals that are not directly related to student learning as well.) Our success at reaching these goals are crucial to the effectiveness of the College, and so they should be assessed. The overall responsibility for ensuring that assessment occurs in these areas lies with the President's Staff member in charge of the division in which the unit resides. Below is our template for reporting on assessment work in support and administrative areas. Just as in the academic areas, assessment in these areas must begin with a careful articulation of goals and objectives. (Areas that work directly with students may have student learning goals as well, informed by the College's Institutional Level Goals for Student Learning.) Generally, our reporting cycle begins in the summer and ends in the next summer so that work can be completed in time to inform budget discussions. Leaders of administrative and co-curricular units should submit their reports (see Template, below) via upload to their designated Google folder for IE reporting, to which their supervisors and the AVP for Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment also have access.
Template
At the beginning of each assessment cycle, the team in a functional area (department, office, committee, working group, etc.) reviews its goals and objectives, ensuring that they are in alignment with College mission and goals, and appropriate division goals, committee charges, etc. The scope of assessment for the cycle should be clarified - on which goals will the team focus, and what evidence should be collected. (This is informed by the previous cycle.) At the end of the cycle, the team reviews the evidence, determines how well it is meeting its goals, and identifies any changes needed for the next cycle. This work should be documented and summarized by responding to each of the following questions. (More detailed records should be kept internally.)
- What goals or objectives have you assessed this year?
- How did you do it?
- What did you find?
- What changes to your operations will you make as a result of this work and what resource implications are there?
- What plans have you made for assessment during the coming cycle?
Each unit is required to attach as an appendix its current full set of mission, goals, and objectives. Click here for a template for reporting.
Support
The AVP for Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment provides advisory and consultative support to administrative departments in designing their assessment process and conducting assessment projects. In some cases the Institutional Effectiveness, Research & Assessment Office may be able to assist in gathering evidence.
Institutional Level
Please see examples of some of the institutional level work in areas outside of individual academic departments and programs in "Institutional Measures and Activities."
Special Note
Assessment of goals and objectives in the functional areas of the College should not be confused with Performance Assessments of employees. These processes differ significantly in terms of focus and purpose.
