College Governance

A5: Description of the Boards and Standing Committees
a. Academic Affairs Board

6. Assessment Committee

The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) employs five criteria to evaluate institutions for accreditation.  In its interpretation of Criterion Three (“The institution is accomplishing its educational and other purposes”), the NCA explicitly states that assessment plans and programs are expected of all affiliated institutions:  “An appropriate pattern of evidence must include evidence that the institution documents the academic achievement of its students.  Institutions, within their self-study reports, must describe and evaluate their assessment program” (NCA-CIHE Handbook of Accreditation).  The Assessment Committee is therefore established as a standing committee of the Academic Affairs Board, although its responsibilities extend to all areas of the College.  Whenever appropriate, therefore, the Assessment Committee will also make recommendations to either the Campus Life Board or the Administrative Affairs Board, or to any of their standing committees.

Functions:

1. To educate the campus community about assessment and assessment issues.
2. To assist academic departments and administrative units in the construction of assessment plans and assessment instruments.
3. To preview assessment plans from academic departments and administrative units and give advice about these plans.
4. To assist academic departments and administrative units in the application and implementation of the findings of their assessment efforts.
5. To develop, in consultation with the academic departments, an assessment instrument to be used in the assessment of the outcomes of the core curriculum.
6. To monitor the assessment plan and recommend to the Academic Affairs Board changes and/or variations in the assessment plan.

Membership:

The Director of Assessment who is appointed by the Provost and serves as committee co-chair along with the Dean for Academic Services & Registrar; Eight faculty members (two from each division including the board liaison); the Director of Computing & Information Technology or his/her designate; the Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students; the Director of Alumni Relations; the Director of General Education, ex officio; a Divisional Academic Dean (appointed by the Provost); and two students (appointed by Student Congress).