Frequently Asked Questions

• Administrative assessment is a systematic process of examining unit effectiveness by evaluating outcomes and analyzing results. Findings are used to improve the unit’s performance and overall effectiveness of the university.
• Assessment of administrative units is both annual (units within the university produce annual assessment reports within their respective divisions, as directed by their divisional leaders), and periodic (five-year cycles).
• The Office of Accountability and Assessment facilitates the five-year periodic assessment reviews of administrative units, and provides leadership and support for continuous improvement of administrative units in the divisions of Academic Affairs, Administration and Finance, and Advancement and Communications.

Ongoing assessment process to ensure programs are meeting goals and continually improving.

• Plan – identify outcomes for assessment and measure to collect data
• Do – implement data collection plan
• Check – analyze/discuss data
• Act – use findings to inform improvements

• Unit members feel a strong connection with the processes or initiatives they help develop.
• Contributes to a dynamic process, allowing units to experiment with new ideas to promote success and meet evolving needs.

• Members from across the unit should be involved in this process.
• Unit leadership submits documentation based on administrative assessment guidelines.
• Members of the unit participate in a SOAR session, which can help create strategy by focusing on strengths and opportunities as a foundation, then exploring aspirations and results that may inform unit goals and outcomes.
• SOAR sessions can also be facilitated with students, where relevant student learning opportunities exist.

• Administrative assessment consists of a comprehensive internal review of the unit and continuous improvement activities. Each unit participates in an orientation, in which we will discuss requirements, best practices, and resources for assessment.
• For new units or those without assessment plans, our office can help develop assessment plans, including SMART goals and assessable outcomes. For units that have existing plans, our office can help integrate reporting and provide strategies for assessment.