Integrating Strategic Planning with Assessment 2012 West Texas Assessment Conference Dr. Karen Shumway Associate Dean, College of Business

Agenda Challenges of Assessment and Strategic Planning Establishing An Integrated Perspective Strategic Planning and Assessment Roadmap

The “Old” Way of Doing Planning & Assessment Prior Challenges With Old System Strategic planning either ad hoc or absent Departmental level choices of tracking and reporting formats Manual input and extraction of information Information difficult to locate and/or extract for relevant and timely use

THE PROBLEMS OF ASSESSMENT WHO Who is in charge? Who is involved? Who has responsibility? Where do I fit in? HOW MUCH Do we have enough measurements? How many measurements do we need? How many measurements do we need to add? Can we reduce some? WHEN What steps come first? What steps come next? When are we going to do them? ? ? ? Roam, Dan (2009). The Back of the Napkin

THE PROBLEMS OF ASSESSMENT WHERE Where are we now? Where are we going? Are we all headed in the right direction? How does it all fit together? HOW How do we get it done? How will things change? How will outcomes be different? WHY Why are we doing this? Why is it important? Why does it appear to change all of the time? Why isn’t there one answer? Why isn’t there more flexibility? ? ? ? Roam, Dan (2009). The Back of the Napkin

The Journey Begins With Planning… “If you don’t care where you are going, it doesn’t matter which road you take”

Establishing An Integrated Perspective Sharing Ideas & Integrated Practices Integrated Technology Toolsets Integrated Processes The New Vision Integrated Mindset for Planning and Assessment Synergy “…untapped quality improvements” Integration of People, Process, & Technology Departments Institutional Leadership, Academic Leadership, Deans, Department Heads (Banta, Jones, & Black, 2009) Pockets of Shared Practices Prior Vision Assessment Practices Individuals Colleges Departmental & College Technology Tools Integrated Information

Establishing An Integrated Perspective Establishing An Integrated Perspective… Vision for University/College & Programs Integrated Approach At All Levels For Planning Budgeting Assessment Accreditation Alignment with University Master Goals & Strategic Direction (Banta, Jones & Black, 2009) Assessment Process & Structure Needs To Facilitate: Student Learning and Engagement Comprehensive Student Advising & Retention Efforts

How did we get here? Changing Landscape of Higher Education –Focus on Globalization –Increased Emphasis on Accountability –Increased Emphasis on Transparency –Processes must be focused on Quality and Continuous Improvement –Changing Pressures and Incentives Campus Realization that we all succeed or we all fail!

Strategic Planning and Outcomes Assessment Sustainable Integrated System Strategic Tactical Strategic Planning Tools Project Management Tools Strategic Planning Budgeting Assessment Program and Project Management & Tracking Data Gathering Tools Student Learning and Engagement Comprehensive Student Advising & Retention Efforts

Strategic Planning and Assessment Roadmap External Environmental Pressures Build Define Assurance of Learning and Planning Assumptions Define the Objectives with Measurements of Success Define the Project Management Approach Identify Disciplined People (Collins, 2001) Discipline Our Thoughts (Collins, 2001) Discipline Our Actions (Collins, 2001) Identify Technology Accelerators (Collins, 2001) Plan for Organizational Change Quality Enhancement Plan To Vision Define the Mission Begin the Journey

Planning Roadmap Continuous Improvement Cycle – Year 2 Continuous Improvement Cycle – Year 1 Integrated Continuous Improvement Processes Fully Deployed Road Map to New Vision We are Here External Environmental Pressures Build Define Assurance of Learning and Planning Assumptions Define the Objectives with Measurements of Success Define the Project Management Approach Identify Disciplined People (Collins, 2001) Discipline Our Thoughts (Collins, 2001) Discipline Our Actions (Collins, 2001) Identify Technology Accelerators (Collins, 2001) Plan for Organizational Change Quality Enhancement Plan To Vision Define the Mission Begin the Journey

Formative and summative assessment of student’s total educational experience through program learning goals and effectiveness and efficiency goals. Sustainable technology solutions to support both direct and indirect assessment measures as well as continuous improvement. Assessment results subjected to continuous improvement strategies, potentially including use of external partnerships such as advisory councils and accrediting bodies. Support for Master Goals and Strategic Directions

Assessment data management system designed to improve student advisement, success and retention, particularly in the first two years through formative assessment. Program enhancement through continuous review and improvement of curricula across departmental and college structures. Link University Learning Goals to college, program, and course learning objectives through a cascading matrix structure that supports students’ intellectual growth. Support for Master Goals and Strategic Directions

U.S. Department of Education (2006). A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education. Report of the Commission Appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, Washington, DC: Author. Available at Collins, J. (2001). Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t. HarperBusiness: New York. Banta, T.W., Jones, E.A. & Black, K.E. (2009). Designing Effective Assessment: Principles and Profiles of Good Practice. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco. Session Reference List Roam, D. (2009). The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures. Penguin Group: New York.