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 is currently undergoing an institution-wide review of assessment practices to prepare for transition to a new assessment system. Programs should utilize 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 is currently undergoing an institution-wide review of assessment practices to prepare for transition to a new assessment system. Programs should utilize the assessment report template [Word].The deadline for submitting unit/program assessment reports every year is October 1.
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.
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.