Outcomes Assessment Policy and Procedures Statement

Expected Outcome

Campus-wide outcomes engagement with ongoing assessment cycles with widespread participation and dialogue integrated in planning and budget cycles.

Rationale

To meet MSCHE standards across the University in continuing improvement-based assessment, and integrated planning and budgeting.

Intended Participants

All college constituencies, including faculty, administrators, and staff.

Procedure

Overview
There are four types of learning outcomes:

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs): what students will be able to do upon completion of the requirements of a particular degree or certificate
Service Area Outcomes (SAOs): what students are expected to achieve and are able to demonstrate in terms of knowledge, skills, and values upon completion of receiving a service, attending a workshop, or participating in a program
General Education Learning Outcomes (GEOs): what all PennWest California students will be able to do upon completion of a degree or certificate or upon transferring to a four-year University
Administrative and Support Unit Outcomes (AUOs): what your target audience/clients will be able to do as a result of interacting with your staff. These outcomes encompass efficiency and quality of service

The University Strategic Assessment Committee (USAC) consists of:

Administrative representation from the President’s/Provost’s Office and contains members who comprise the following assessment groups:

Academic Program Assessment Committee (APAC)
Student Affairs Assessment Committee (SAAC)
Administrative and Educational Support Assessment Committee (AESAC)
General Education Assessment Committee (GEAC)

Annual Assessment Plan Reports: Assessment planning is an activity that each unit undertakes at the beginning of their assessment cycle timeframe and should be started by mid-summer. An Assessment Plan Report should be finalized early in the fall semester in order to allow for adequate time to implement the plan.

Annual Assessment Results Reports: The Assessment Results Report is completed once data has been collected, reviewed, and discussed, and after an action plan has been identified. Assessment reporting is an activity that each planning unit undertakes at the end of its assessment cycle and is finalized by the end of the spring semester.

Assessment Integration with Budget Cycle: Budget development commences every January. Funding requests are tied to baseline instruction, student services, and administrative department costs as well as unit assessment. This is reflected in annual reports and budget requests.

Assessment Calendar and Process Review: The University Strategic Assessment Committee consistently assesses and refines the assessment process as needed to meet the needs of faculty and staff.

Timeline

Fall:

August/September: Units create mission statement, identify outcomes, criteria for success (desired targets), and methods of gathering data (measurements strategies and opportunities). Units begin gathering data. Faculty, staff, and administrators begin entering completed assessment plans in Assessment Plan Report Template.
October: Assessment Plan Report is submitted to unit assessment committee October 1st, 2018.
November – March: Plan is adjusted in response to unit assessment committee feedback. Data is collected.

Spring:

April: Units analyze data, discuss results, determine their meaning, and create action plans based on those meanings. Units enter completed assessment results in Assessment Results Report Template. Annual Assessment Results Report is submitted to unit assessment committee April 15th, 2019.
May: Plan is adjusted for improvement in response to unit assessment committee feedback.

Faculty participating in the term’s General Education assessment meet to share/aggregate results and discuss recommendations and action plans.

Deans and Department Chairs review assessment completion status and manage implementation of assessment and improvement strategies.

The Institutional Effectiveness Director compiles and distributes assessment completion data for the assessment cycle and distributes it to chairs, administrators, and key staff members.

Fall: October/November; Spring: March/April: Updated assessment completion data is disseminated to department chairs.

The Assessment website is continually updated with the latest assessment completion data.

Description of Process

Instruction:
1. Program Assessment is conducted in the fall and spring by department faculty led by the department chair, Assessment Coordinators, or designated assessment
2. Data/analysis/program improvements are all documented in Assessment Templates and available for the campus community as well as public for transparency and open communication.
3. Dialogue occurs in Division and department
4. Assessment results and improvements are aggregated and reported in annual unit plans, program review reports, and annual Institutional Assessment Report. Assessment results are tied to budget requests and allocations for each instructional
Student Services
1. All student service departments assess two Service Area Outcomes (SAO) each fall and spring
2. Data/analysis/program improvements are all documented in Assessment Templates and available for the campus community as well as public for transparency and open communication.
3. Dialogue occurs with faculty and staff in Division and department
4. Assessment results and improvements are aggregated and reported in annual unit plans as well as in program review reports. Assessment results are tied to budget requests and allocations for each student services unit.
Administrative Services and Educational Support
1. All administrative service departments assess two outcomes (AUO) each fall and spring semester.
2. Data/analysis/program improvements are all documented in Templates and available for the campus community as well as public for transparency and open
3. Dialogue occurs in Management meetings as well as in a fall dialogue session dedicated
  to Administrative outcomes assessment across the college.
4. Assessment results and improvements are aggregated and reported in annual unit plans as well as in program review reports. Assessment results are tied to budget requests and allocations for each administrative unit.