Academic program assessment is not a one-time activity but a continuous process of developing and measuring learning outcomes, collecting data, determining success criteria, analyzing results, and using the results for improvements. The heart of program assessment is in making and documenting the connections regarding how assessment results in the previous cycles have informed subsequent assessment planning and improvements/changes.
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Improvement will be transitioning to a new assessment reporting system during the 2023-2024 academic year. Until the system is fully implemented, annual reports can be submitted using the assessment report template [Word].
The deadline for submitting academic program assessment reports every year is November 1.
All academic support and administrative units across the university are expected to engage in an ongoing assessment of their programs and services. This requires the development of an assessment plan that will guide the process and annual reporting of assessment results.
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Improvement will be transitioning to a new assessment reporting system during the 2023-2024 academic year. Until the system is fully implemented, annual reports can be submitted using the assessment report template [Word].
The deadline for submitting unit/program assessment reports every year is October 1.
As part of the internal governance process, Radford University has adopted a systematic process of sequentially reviewing academic programs every five years. The oversight for implementing the five-year academic program review centrally lies with the Academic Program Review Committee, consisting of all Academic Deans, a teaching Faculty (representative) from each college, Institutional Research Director, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Improvement, and the Faculty Senate President. Academic Program Review conducted every five years includes information collected over the course of the past five Annual Academic Program Reports. However, the fifth-year report is more reflective and analytical by examining the programs’ trend data and strategically projecting the development of the programs under review to the future. This comprehensive review is intended to determine the overall health, viability, and curricular integrity of the program, as well as reflecting upon assessment findings and the programmatic improvements made as a result of assessment.
Radford University began the current 5-year program review cycle in academic year 2019-2020, which will be completed in academic year 2023-2024.
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Improvement processes student evaluations of faculty in many courses taught at Radford University. Every semester the Student Evaluation of Faculty is conducted to solicit students’ perceptions of their experiences in each course taken. The results of the evaluations are provided to respective Department Chairs and faculty members.
Students’ course evaluation results are important to faculty because the outcomes are used for faculty evaluation, tenure, and promotion decisions. The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Improvement analyzes the results and provides reports to academic departments.
Currently, Radford University utilizes online instruments for administering all course evaluations.
For additional information on student evaluations of faculty, see the Radford University Teaching and Research Faculty Handbook [PDF]. (Specifically page 14...1.4.1.3 Student Evaluations of Faculty)
The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a component of the reaffirmation process, which reflects the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges’ (SACSCOC) commitment to enhancing the quality of higher education by focusing attention on student learning and success. Every institution is expected to embed the QEP within its ongoing, institution-wide planning and evaluation process, which may evolve from the existing process or from other processes related to the institution’s internal reaffirmation review.
Developing the Quality Enhancement Plan presents an institution with the opportunity to enhance overall institutional quality and effectiveness by focusing on an issue or issues of importance to the institution for improving student learning. In SACSCOC’s Principles of Accreditation, Standard 7.2 requires an institution to develop an acceptable Quality Enhancement Plan as an integral part of the reaffirmation process.
For Radford University’s upcoming 2023 accreditation reaffirmation, the QEP development process is currently in progress. The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Improvement assists the QEP initiative with its assessment efforts.
Please visit the detailed QEP page for more information about the development and organization of Radford University’s 2023 Quality Enhancement Plan.
General education develops capacity in important student learning areas. The REAL Curriculum documents how students develop these competencies within foundational courses and in majors, minors, and certificates. Writing intensive course requirements allow students to hone additional skills. General Education assessment offers faculty and departments opportunities to demonstrate the REAL Curriculum’s value and success to students. The REAL Council maintains oversight for the REAL Curriculum.
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Improvement assists with assessment practices for the REAL Curriculum.