Assessment Committee
The Assessment Committee promotes systematic inquiry into the effectiveness of student learning, teaching, and support services at Ouachita. The committee’s duties include the following:
- Coordinate the collection, analysis, storage, and distribution of key evidence for student learning and program effectiveness;
- Support department and program assessment efforts by sharing proven practices and strategies;
- Review and analyze program self-studies, as well as any additional program review materials, such as reports from external evaluation;
- Develop summary recommendations for the Planning Committee based on the program review process;
- Share key assessment results with appropriate campus leadership, including the Deans’ Council, Administrative Council, and Planning Committee;
- Evaluate the program review process and recommend changes as needed.
The President appoints this committee, which shall consist of the Assessment Coordinator (chair), at least one vice president, two deans, two department chairs, the Director of Institutional Research, and a director or supervisor from an administrative unit. The Assessment Coordinator as chair and the Director of Institutional Research are permanent committee members. Other committee members are selected from programs and services not undergoing review in the current academic year; staggered terms of committee service are normally three years.
Seven-Year Campus Review Cycle Calendar
September 15
VPAA notifies deans and directors of academic support programs scheduled for program review the following academic year. VPAS will notify the appropriate administrative unit heads.
February 1
Deans, program directors, and administrative unit heads submit a brief program review proposal to VPAA or VPAS and the Assessment Coordinator using the “Guidelines for Program Review Proposals.”
March 1
Departments, programs, and offices are notified of approval and, if necessary, any
required modifications to the plan proposed for conducting the program review.
Program Review Year
October 15
Self-study document based on the appropriate template (Self-Study Guidelines for Program Review: Academic Units – See Table 6 below OR Self-Study Guidelines for Program Review: Administrative Units/Academic Support Units – See Table 7 below) is submitted to the appropriate vice president (VPAA/VPAS), dean, and the Assessment Coordinator for preliminary review.
November 1
Notification of preliminary approval of the self-study. If major deficiencies are discovered, document is returned for revision, and a new deadline is established.
November – February
Self-study document forwarded to Assessment Committee for analysis. External review may be conducted during this period, but evaluator’s report and any additional material must be submitted by March 1.
March – April
Assessment Committee finalizes its analysis of each self-study and additional materials and prepares a written report with recommendations for each academic and administrative unit under review.
May 15
Departments, programs, and offices may submit a brief response to the Assessment Committee, which forwards its recommendations, along with unit responses, to the Planning Committee.
August
Deans and administrative supervisors report to the campus on their program review outcomes and strategic plans.
Annual Report Templates
Academic Departments and Programs (Table 1A)
Deadline: Determined by Dean or Director (no later than June 1)
Academic Schools (Table 2)
Deadline: Determined by VPAA
Administrative Units and Academic Support Units (Table 3)
Deadline: Annual Report deadline is July 1.
Deadline: Assessment Report posted to M:drive by July 1.
(The Assessment Report uses the same outline as the Annual Report, with the omission
of item X.)
Ouachita Online (Table 8A)
Deadline: Annual Report deadline is July 1.
Graduate and Professional Studies (Table 9)
Deadline: Annual Report deadline is July 1.
Assessment of Student Learning Report Templates
Academic Departments and Programs (Table 1B)
Deadline: Post to M: Drive and notify Assessment Coordinator of posting by October
1.
Ouachita Online (Table 8B)
Deadline: Assessment Report posted to M:Drive by November 1.
Program Review Templates
Program Review Proposals for Academic and Administrative Units (Table 5)
Deadline: Submit to VPAA or VPAS and chair of the Assessment Committee by February
1 preceding Program Review year
Self-Study Guidelines for Program Review: Academic Units (Table 6)
Deadline: Submit to VPAA and chair of the Assessment Committee by October 15 of Program
Review year
Self-Study Guidelines for Program Review: Administrative Units/Academic Support Units
(Table 7)
Deadline: Submit to VPAS or VPAA and chair of the Assessment Committee by October
15 of Program Review year
