Assessing the Operations at Your Institution: Purposes + Planning + Processes = Performance Arizona Assessment Conference Yavapai College, Prescott, Arizona Friday, April 1, 2016 Dr. Nancy Stackhouse Director of Academic Assessment Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) Tempe, Arizona

Why assess your institutional operations? What are the PURPOSES? 2 1.Improve student success 2.Improve institutional effectiveness 3.Improve institution efficiency 4.Achieve strategic plan outcomes 5.Meet accreditation requirements

How do you currently assess the operations at your institution? 1.What do you consider “operations”? 2.Who is responsible for the assessment of operations? 3.Are you assessing operational outcomes from the strategic plan? 4.How do you use operations assessment results? Activity: Please discuss with a partner or small group your understanding of how operations are currently assessed at your institution. Then, we will share a few ideas with the whole group.

Strategic PLANNING TAKES TIME

What research do you rely upon to conduct assessment of operations? (14:45 min. to 21:45 min.) Mary Odden, Assistant Director of Assessment, CampusLabs and Assessment Consultant Videostream: “Developing Operational Outcomes”(7 min.)

Beginning the PROCESS: Identification of Operational Area Heads at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) 6 1.Admissions 2.Retention 3.Registrar/Academic Advising 4.Financial Aid 5.Student Life 6.Career Services 7.Community Education 8.Alumni 9.Welcome Center 10.Information Technology 11.Website and Marketing 12.Business Office (Finance/Payroll) 13.Facilities 14.Administrative Services 15.Medicinary 16.Human Resources 17.Library 18.Development 19.Research 20.Medical Center/Pain Relief Center 21.Laboratory 22.Academic Affairs

Operational Area Assessment Plan Template and Sample Assessment Plan (“beginning the loop”)Assessment Record (“closing the loop”) Intended Operational Area Outcomes: “What outcomes do we want to achieve?” Criteria & Procedures for Assessment of Outcomes: “How will we determine whether we meet our outcomes?” Assessment and Data Collection Results: “What do our data indicate about whether or not we are meeting our outcomes?” Use of Results to Improve Performance & Service: “What steps will we take to do a better job of meeting our outcomes? Are new outcomes or modifications to outcomes needed?” Strategic Planning and/or Budget Action: “What will be needed (time and resources) to take these steps to improve?” Person Responsible for Collecting Data and Implementing Improvement Steps: “Who will get it done?” 1.Increase inter-library loan requests The Library staff will keep track of journal article requests from students, faculty, staff, and physicians. The Library staff will encourage inter-library loan requests by sending a monthly “All SCNM” to students, faculty, staff, and physicians indicating new or existing resources to request. Success will be achieved if a) a yearly total of inter-library requests by students, faculty, staff, and physicians is documented, and b) the yearly total increases by 15% over the previous year. Director of Library Library Assistants

Agenda for “Assessment of Operational Areas at SCNM: Part 1” 8 1.Primary purpose: for Higher Learning Commission Accreditation (HLC Criterion Four: Evaluation and Improvement and HLC Criterion Five: Institutional Effectiveness) 2.Description of initial process to identify operational area heads 3.Timeline for providing training, modeling of writing the plans (i.e., “beginning the loop” of assessment), submitting plans, process for review and approval of plans 4.Operational area assessment plan template and samples 5.Modeling of how to “close the loop” of assessment 6.Tips for “beginning the loop” and “closing the loop” 7.Timeline for annual cycle of assessment of operational areas 8. Plans for follow-up training in April, 2016

Tips for Successful Implementation of Your Operational Area Assessment Plan: 9 1.Select outcomes that are Meaningful, Manageable, and Measurable 2.Limit the outcomes to only two to four per plan 3.Align to strategic plan outcomes where possible 4.Cross-align to other operational area plan outcomes where possible 5.Consult with Director of Assessment for assistance 6.Obtain approval of operational area assessment plan from superior 7.Closely monitor data collection for strategic and budgetary planning purposes

Pilot Year: of Operational Area Assessment Plans at SCNM 10

Agenda for “Assessment of Operational Areas at SCNM: Part 2” & Celebration!!! 11 1.Reminder of purpose: for Higher Learning Commission Accreditation (HLC Criterion Four: Evaluation and Improvement and HLC Criterion Five: Institutional Effectiveness) 2. Developing Operational Outcomes Videostream (7 min.) 3. Performance check-in regarding data collection, use of results, strategic actions and budgetary considerations 4. Modeling and reminders on how to “close the loop” of assessment 5. Work in groups to share and discuss progress on “closing the loop” 6. Timeline for submitting budget requests, completing your operational area assessment plans, choosing outcomes for plans, due dates to supervisors and Director of Assessment 7. Celebration!!!! “Let there be cake” to celebrate everyone’s participation, enthusiasm, and commitment to assessment of operations!

Reflecting on Purposes + Planning + Processes = Performance: Activity: With a partner or in a small group, please analyze one or two operational area assessment plans (that are distributed) and discuss and record on post-it notes the following: 1.If you think the procedures and criteria for success for the outcome need to be changed or improved 2.If you think the degree of performance indicated is acceptable or needs modification 3.Recommendations for improvements in writing the outcome(s), writing the procedures, and/or determining criteria for success 4. Any “take-away” insights from today’s session that you might use Hopefully, we will have time for a few groups to share. I would also appreciate collecting your analyses and using your expertise to assist us at SCNM I can also a group analysis to session participants.

SharingQuestions TIME FOR SHARING AND QUESTIONS Learning from Each Other 13

14 Contact Information Nancy Stackhouse, Ed.D. Director of Academic Assessment Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine 2140 East Broadway Road Tempe, AZ