Guide for Reviewing Academic and Student Services Assessment

Mission Statement

• Does the mission statement address key stakeholders that participate in the program and those that will benefit from the program?
• Is the mission statement clearly stated and specific to the department/unit?
• Does the mission statement define the core purposes of the department/unit?
• Does the mission statement address the most important functions, operations, and offerings of the program?

Outcomes

• Are the required number of three outcomes present? 
• Do outcomes focus on issues pertinent and important to the department/unit, as specifically defined in the mission statement?
• Are the outcomes student-centered and do they concentrate on areas where assessment will enable the department/unit to improve, with a focus on the end result and not the means?
• Is achievement of outcomes measurable?
• Do outcomes clearly articulate intended result or action?
• Are outcomes stated so that a single method can be used to measure it?
• Are outcomes written so that more than one measurement method can be used?
• Do outcomes align with last year's action plans?

Methods

• Are there two methods/measures provided for each outcome?
• Do the methods/measures selected align with the intent of the outcome?
• Do methods/measures address all the following?
  • who will be assessed;
  • what will be assessed;
  • how the assessment will be conducted; and
  • when the assessment will take place?
• Do methods/measures indicate performance targets, such as percentages and numbers?
• Can methods/measures be implemented within the academic year?
• Can methods/measures be implemented in a reasonably efficient manner?
• Do methods/measures use direct, or indirect when necessary, means of acquiring data?
• Do methods/measures align with last year's action plans?

Results

• Are results provided for each assessment method/measure?
• Do results include reflection upon and discussion of the findings amassed from the corresponding method/measure?
• Are results based on reliable and valid data collection methods?
• Do results indicate level of achievement of performance targets?
• Do results discuss implementation of prior year's action plans and how they impacted performance?
• Do results provide indicators for further improvement?

Action Plan

• Are action plans provided for outcomes that have either declined or not improved?
• Are action plans based on findings reported in the results?
• Are action plans feasible considering available resources and time?
• Do action plans appear likely to lead to continuous improvement?

Evidence of Improvement

• Is actual evidence of improvement described for at least one outcome?
• Is evidence of improvement founded in the results from year to year for all years of available data?
• Does the evidence summarize if and how action plans from the prior year led to further improvements for the current year?

Downloadable Template