Assessment

Professor Lori Isaacson assists students in her medical research lab
Art Professor Hatch works with student on a project
FSB's Professor Ellram converses with student in her class
Regional campus faculty and staff talk after conference
Mechnical Engineering professor works with student in summers scholar program
Professor Noltemeyer talks to students in her Educational Psychology classroom

As part of the requirements for reaffirmation of accreditation, Miami must ensure that academic programs, the liberal education program as well as significant co-curricular and academic support programs consistently engage in meaningful assessment processes.  Within Academic Affairs, each department and program is to implement a full cycle assessment program for each of its undergraduate majors, graduate degree programs, and "free-standing" certificates (i.e. certificates that may enroll students who are not already enrolled in another Miami degree program).

Full cycle assessment is an ongoing, iterative process that uses results to inform decisions and make improvements. In order to improve, careful planning is necessary. Learning goals and outcomes must be clearly specified, appropriate measures must be selected, data collection must be carefully executed, and most importantly, results must be shared for improvements to occur.

Academic support units and Student Life units also are required to undergo assessment of their programs and services and submit annual reports on their assessment activities.

Assessment Plans and Reports

Departments and programs should specify their full-cycle assessment programs in an assessment plan and then report on progress made each year. Departments and divisions that undergo accreditations by their disciplinary professional organizations (e.g., ABET, AACSB, CAEP) may use the assessment data collected for these processes so long as they comply with the HLC "full cycle" assessment requirement. Assessment plans and annual reports are evaluated each year by members of the University Assessment Council and more formally by a divisional faculty committee every 5-7 years as part of the department's academic program review.

Assessment reports for academic support and Student Life units are also reviewed annually to ensure high quality and meaningful assessment activity.

Academic departments, programs or other units that do not already have an assessment plan, wish to revise an existing plan, or need assistance in developing an annual assessment report, are encouraged to contact Carolyn Haynes, Senior Associate Provost, for support.