Background
One of the eligibility requirements of our accreditation authority, The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, is to demonstrate institutional effectiveness, a process by which an institution assesses "...the extent to which it fulfills its mission and achieves its goals, and periodically publishes the results to its constituencies."ⁱ Implementing a systematic administrative assessment process is an important part of the college's commitment to institutional effectiveness as outlined by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

College Policy on Assessment

Role of Institutional Research
In November, 2003, at the request of President Carol Lucey, the Office of Institutional Research began coordinating the college's administrative assessment process. The Office of Institutional Research's role is to provide support for administrative departments as they strive to complete yearly assessments, and to make sure that the assessment cycle planning and completion dates are met.

2003-2004 Administrative Assessment Evaluation Results (.pdf)

Assessment Forms

Administrative Assessment Checklist (.pdf)
General Guidelines for Completing Your Assessment Cycle (.pdf)

Administrative Assessment Forms
2006-2007 Report (steps 4-5) due April 1st, 2007
2007-2008 Plan (steps 1-3) due April 1st, 2007

Assessment Form Instructions (.pdf)
         Sample Assessment Reports
                  Accounting Office (.pdf)
                  Career Center (.pdf)
                  Registrar's Office (.pdf)

Five Column Worksheets and Instructions (.doc) (Optional. They can be used as worksheets before transferring information into assessment forms)
         Sample Five Column Worksheets
                  Accounting Office (.pdf)
                  Career Center (.pdf)
                  Registrar's Office (.pdf)

Assessment Schedule
Each assessment cycle spans one full year and is comprised of 3 separate stages: Steps 1-3 (developing the assessment design), conducting assessment activities, and Steps 4&5 (quality enhancement). At the same time one annual cycle is ending, the next is beginning. The schedule below illustrates:

Due Dates	2005-06 Cycle	2006-07 Cycle	2007-08 Cycle
April 1, 2005	Complete steps 1-3 (assessment plan)
Ongoing	Conduct assessment activities
April 1, 2006	Steps 4&5 (assessment report)	Steps 1-3 (assessment plan)
Ongoing		Conduct assessment activities
April 1, 2007		Steps 4&5 (assessment report)	Steps 1-3 (assessment plan)