Non-Academic Assessment
Jacksonville University (JU) has a comprehensive, integrated planning and assessment process. Planning and assessment occurs at the institutional level and extends to the classroom level. It is a cyclical process whereby plans are developed and implemented on an annual basis, outcomes are assessed, and findings are used to guide improvements. To achieve this process, the University utilizes an online assessment system that allows users to align their goals and objectives with those of the University.
Annual plans and reports should serve a greater institutional purpose than merely stating activities undertaken in a given fiscal year. Rather than being episodic events that occur for a few days each summer, meaningful assessment planning and reporting should drive our efforts. To be fully effective, planning documents should be fully integrated and allow us to document how our work in individual offices contributes to larger divisional and University-wide goals.
Instead of waiting until the summer months to revisit what has occurred, why it has occurred, and the impact it may have had, a more meaningful planning and reporting process calls for continual engagement and reflection of the effectiveness of our units and programs. Institutional effectiveness should be viewed as a process of continuous improvement.
The components of Annual Plans and Reports include: Mission, Vision, Long-Range Goals, Annual Goals, Student Learning Outcomes (where appropriate), Initiatives, Major Activities, and Use of Results from Previous Academic Year(s).
Beyond being a best practice internally, sound planning and evaluation processes on campus provide continued compliance with the expectations of SACSCOC. Section 7 of the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation discusses:
Effective institutions demonstrate a commitment to principles of continuous improvement, based on a systematic and documented process of assessing institutional performance with respect to mission in all aspects of the institution. An institutional planning and effectiveness process involves all programs, services, and constituencies; is linked to the decision-making process at all levels; and provides a sound basis for budgetary decisions and resource allocations.
Moreover, Standard 7.1 specifically asks us to demonstrate compliance with:
The institution engages in ongoing, comprehensive, and integrated research-based planning and evaluation processes that (a) focus on institutional quality and effectiveness and (b) incorporate a systematic review of institutional goals and outcomes consistent with its mission.
To ensure we truly position ourselves, the Planning and Reporting cycle will be built around the Plan-Do-Check-Act paradigm as demonstrated below.
Assessment Repository
See current annual assessment plans in our repository.
Timeline and Relevant Materials
Annual plans for the current academic year are due to OAP August 30. Annual Reports for the previous academic year are due to OAP June 30. All plans and reports are to be entered through Campus Labs Planning.