AALHE 2018 Annual Conference

The presenter will show how the structure of academic program assessment was used to develop a unit assessment protocol across all units of the university. Based on development of unit goals and outcomes aligned with a newly developed strategic plan, each university unit was asked to develop 3 major goals with aligned outcomes from that plan that would be assessed annually over a three-year cycle. A common template was used for this process. This model allows for the individuality of units across all departments of the university while maintaining a common unifying element of its Mission and Strategic Compass. Participants will be given samples of the template and encouraged to develop and adapt the template to meet their own institution's needs. This will be followed by an explanation of the process for periodic unit evaluation for effectiveness, and how the annual assessment contributes to periodic evaluation. The theoretical model for unit evaluation and strategic planning is based on Alexander & Serfass' Strategic Quality Planning and Continuous Improvement (1999). The underlying theory is that of KAIZEN, continuous improvement. The process includes the elements of internal and external scans, benchmarking success and vision sharing, tactical considerations, and analysis of interrelationships.