Program and Student Learning Outcome Assessment Cycle

OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT CYCLE

CYCLE FOR COMPLETING INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS PLANS & REPORTS

As depicted in Figure I and II, SUSLA adheres to an on-going and cyclical process for assessing the effectiveness of its non-instructional and instructional programs and courses. Programs are to complete an Institutional Effectiveness Plan in the Spring of each academic year and report the findings in the Integrated Reporting Document in October. Similarly, applicable courses complete a Course Assessment Report in accordance with the University assessment cycle.

Figure I: IE Planning and Reporting Process

Figure II: Annual Assessment Planning, Reporting & 
Submission Cycle

*Note: Course Assessment Reports are due at the end of the course.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSESSMENT

The Institutional Effectiveness Plan and Report 

Each department that receives a budget allocation should complete an annual Institutional Effectiveness (IE) Plan and Report. All funded departments or functions of the University have a responsibility for instituting the mission of the institution. Therefore, to determine the effectiveness of each unit, an IE Plan and Report is required. There are instances in which two or more departments or programs may complete one plan and report as one unit. In these instances, the department’s supervisor in collaboration with the Department of Outcomes Assessment and Quality Management should be consulted. Examples include stackable instructional or academic programs and departments where the operations are relatively inextricable or highly interdependent.

Instructional Programs

The Institutional Effectiveness Plan and Report for Instructional Units are to be completed by University academic degree programs—both face-to-face and online degree programs. An academic degree program at Southern University at Shreveport leads to the attainment of a certificate, associate’s degree, or technical diploma and/or is recognized on the University’s degree inventory. Concentrations, independent of a degree program must also be assessed.

Program directors/coordinators or department heads, with assistance from department faculty are responsible for completing the plan and report. Program directors/coordinators should coordinate the assessment of the degree program with faculty in the department.

Non-Instructional Programs

The Institutional Effectiveness Plan and Report for Non-Instructional Units are to be completed by all administrative, student and educational support units. These units are budgeted units and are clearly delineated on the University’s organizational charts. Directors and coordinators, with assistance from department staff, are responsible for completing the plan and report.

Tips for Sharing the Assessment Workload

• Meet with faculty or staff at the beginning of each academic year to plan assessment for the year. Determine who is most appropriate to assess what, how the assessment will be done, and when the data should be collected and made available for reporting.
• Do not wait until the end of the year to try to collect assessment data. It WILL ALLWAYS be overwhelming.
• Make a calendar in Microsoft Outlook® to set reminders of when data should be collected and by whom.
• Ask faculty or staff who collect the data to provide a preliminary analysis and summary while the information is easily retrieved from memory.
• Discuss quarterly the assessment efforts and results of direct reports, when available. Incorporate the discussion in meetings to ensure the activity is occurring. This is a helpful reminder to personnel to gather the data.
• Ensure that everyone in the department is a part of the process from the beginning to the end. This offers inclusion and buy-in.
• If you are a one-person department, work with the Department of Outcomes Assessment to identify opportunities to make the assessment a part of your normal workload.

SAMPLE ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR PAYROLL DEPARTMENT

SAMPLE ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR PAYROLL DEPARTMENT

The Course Assessment Report

The Course Assessment Report (CAR) is required to be completed by general education, online, and other applicable courses as designated by the division Dean. Course instructors are responsible for completing the report as designated by the program coordinator. The program coordinator has the purview to schedule the collection of data as deemed meaningful.

For courses with multiple sections and multiple instructors, faculty may pool their data and designate one person to complete the assessment form for the course. However, all faculty teaching the course, even adjuncts, should contribute to the assessment by providing appropriate data and information.

The Course Assessment Report(CAR) is submitted to the program coordinator and Department of Outcomes Assessment and Quality Management.