2006 Fall Workshop PLANNING and ASSESSMENT: A TUTORIAL FOR NEW DEPARTMENT CHAIRS – A REFRESHER COURSE FOR OTHERS

Planning and Assessment Workshop Session 1 NATIONAL/REGIONAL ISSUES AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES T. Gilmour Reeve Director of Strategic Planning Office of the President 1:00 – 1:45 November 10, 2006

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 NATIONAL LEVEL US Department of Education does not (at this time) accredit institutions but it does accredit the “accrediting” agencies USDE does require that these accrediting agencies have standards regarding the quality of the institution and its programs, including student achievement Institutions are eligible for Federal funding through accreditation by a recognized USDE agency. Material from SCUP’s Webcast “Integrating Higher Education Planning and Assessment: A Practical Guide” – September 28, 2006

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 NATIONAL LEVEL ACCREDITATION Accreditation is voluntary – if institutional doesn’t want/need federal funds it doesn’t have to be accredited (but students won’t graduate from an accredited institution) Accreditation agencies are self-regulating and use a peer-review process to ensure standards are met Accreditation standards are institutional-wide and focus on improvement of programs and services Program or discipline specific accrediting agencies generally won’t accredit the program if the institution is not accredited Material from SCUP’s Webcast “Integrating Higher Education Planning and Assessment: A Practical Guide” – September 28, 2006

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 NATIONAL LEVEL ACCREDITATION vs. ACCOUNTABILITY Growing Pressure from Federal and State initiatives to hold institutions “accountable” on performance measures Spelling Commission Report of the Future of Higher Education:  Funding for publicly reporting student learning outcomes  Move toward use of measures that place more emphasis on student learning (see the Chronicle of Higher Education, October 6, 2006) Texas State Accountability System

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 REGIONAL LEVEL For most universities, institutional accreditation is achieved via one of six regional accrediting agencies Southern Association for Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges (COC) is the regional accrediting agency for Texas Tech University SACSCOC accrediting standards are published in the Principles of Accreditation

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 REGIONAL LEVEL SACSCOC standards related to planning and assessment: oCR 2.5 The institution engages in ongoing, integrated, and institution-wide research-based planning and evaluation processes that incorporate a systematic review of programs and services that (a) results in continuing improvement, and (b) demonstrates that the institution is effectively accomplishing its mission. (Institutional Effectiveness) oCR The institution identifies expected outcomes for its educational programs and its administrative and educational support services; assesses whether it achieves these outcomes; and provides evidence of improvement based on analysis of those results. oCS The institution demonstrates that each educational program for which academic credit is awarded (a) is approved by the faculty and the administration, and (b) establishes and evaluates program and learning outcomes.

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 REGIONAL LEVEL There are three basic aspects to these SACSCOC standards: oThe institution DOES planning and assessment; oThe institution USES planning and assessment to improve programs and services; oThe institution DOCUMENTS the planning and assessment activities and the improvements made.

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 Texas Tech University: Planning and Assessment  Strategic Planning initiated in  First Annual Assessment Reports prepared for 2002 – submitted Spring 2003 – submitted annually since  All strategic plans and annual assessment reports are publicly accessible on Strategic Planning and Assessment Reports homepage:

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 Texas Tech University: Planning and Assessment University Policies:  OP – Strategic Planning and Assessment “ The university, including all academic programs and support operations, is engaged in an ongoing and comprehensive process of planning and assessment. All areas (divisions and colleges) and units (departments, centers, and institutes within areas) must conform to the university policies as specified in this OP.”

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 Texas Tech University: Planning and Assessment University Policies: OP (cont.) “Academic programs, including program content, quality, and assessment, are the primary responsibility of the faculty within the academic disciplines. Learning outcomes assessments of academic programs are included in the departments’ annual assessment reports.”

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 Texas Tech University: Planning and Assessment University Policies: OP (cont.) “Academic department chairs, deans, and the provost/senior vice president for academic affairs are responsible for ensuring that academic programs are appropriately organized and outcomes of student learning are assessed annually for program improvement.”

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 Texas Tech University: Planning and Assessment University Policies: OP (cont.)  Assessment reports are processed from the unit level to the area level through the university administrative organization. Administrators at each level are to ensure that assessment reports from all their units have been completed and submitted.  Assessment reports are used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of programs and operations for all areas and units.

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 Planning and assessment are not additional tasks to be accomplished but serve as a systematic approach to accomplishing the university’s, the areas’ and units’ missions and goals.

Planning and Assessment Workshop – Session 1 QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS? THANK YOU!