2008 Spring Semester Workshop AN INTRODUCTION TO STRATEGIC PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP T. Gilmour Reeve, Ph.D. Director of Strategic Planning

Introduction to Planning and Assessment Purposes of Workshop  TTU policies and procedures related to planning and assessment  Guidelines for preparing and implementing the strategic plan  Instructions for preparing and submitting the annual assessment report  Strategies for using the assessment reports to improve programs and services

TTU Policies and Procedures Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) CR 2.5 The institution engages in ongoing, integrated, and institution-wide research-based planning and evaluation processes that (1) incorporate a systematic review of institutional mission, goals, and outcomes; (2) result in continuing improvement in institutional quality; and (3) demonstrate the institution is effectively accomplishing its mission (Institutional Effectiveness).

TTU Policies and Procedures SACS-COC CS The institution identifies expected outcomes, assesses the extent to which it achieves these outcomes, and provides evidence of improvement based on analysis of the results in each of the following areas:  Educational programs,to include student learning outcomes  Administrative support services  Educational support services  Research with its educational mission  Community/public service within its educational mission

TTU Policies and Procedures There are three basic aspects to these SACSCOC standards: The institution DOES planning and assessment; The institution USES planning and assessment to improve programs and services; The institution DOCUMENTS the planning and assessment activities and the improvements made.

TTU Policies and Procedures TECH POLICIES TO ADDRESS SACS-COC STANDARDS OP Strategic Planning and Assessment for TTU, including all academic programs and support operations The university, including all academic programs and support operations, is engaged in an ongoing and comprehensive process of planning and assessment. All areas and units are to have strategic plans and participate in the annual assessment of their plans.

Introduction to Planning and Assessment OP (cont.) “Academic programs, including program content, quality, and assessment, are the primary responsibility of the faculty within the academic disciplines. Learning outcomes assessments of academic programs are included in the departments’ annual assessment reports.”

Introduction to Planning and Assessment OP (cont.) “Academic department chairs, deans, and the provost/senior vice president for academic affairs are responsible for ensuring that academic programs are appropriately organized and outcomes of student learning are assessed annually for program improvement.”

Introduction to Planning and Assessment OP (cont.)  Assessment reports are processed from the unit level to the area level through the university administrative organization. Administrators at each level are to ensure that assessment reports from all their units have been completed and submitted.  Assessment reports are used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of programs and operations for all areas and units.

Introduction to Planning and Assessment Planning and assessment are not additional tasks to be accomplished but serve as a systematic approach to accomplishing the university’s, the areas’ and units’ missions and goals.

Introduction to Planning and Assessment STRATEGIC PLANS AND ANNUAL ASSESSMENT REPORTS “A TALE OF TWO DOCUMENTS” Strategic plans and annual assessment reports are separate but related documents

Planning and Assessment Workshop STRATEGIC PLANS Prepared by division/department Reviewed regularly and revised as appropriate Includes Mission, Vision/Values, Goals, Benchmarks, Objectives & Strategies Maintained on Web site & linked to Strategic Plan Web page – publicly accessible ASSESSMENT REPORTS Prepared annually by division/department Use Templates on Strategic Plan Web page Maintained by IRIM – publicly accessible Address goals and benchmarks from strategic plan Includes commentary on results and implementation plans for coming year

Planning and Assessment A Processing Cycle Planning Strategic Planning (purpose & goals) Implementation courses, programs, strategies Assessment Annual Assessment Reporting (measurement & evaluation)

Planning and Assessment Possible Responses to Assessment: 1. No changes needed; 2. Change Purpose and Goals; 3. Change Programs, research, service; 4. Change Assessments. Planning purpose & goals Implementation Courses, programs, strategies Assessment measurement & evaluation

Planning and Assessment Workshop STRATEGIC PLANNING: REVISING THE STRATEGIC PLAN PARTS TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN MISSION VISION + VALUES GOALS BENCHMARKS OBJECTIVES & STRATEGIES

Planning and Assessment Workshop STRATEGIC PLANNING: REVISING THE STRATEGIC PLAN Suggestions: Align strategic plan with the university and division strategic goals to the extent that such an alignment is consistent with the mission and vision of the department. Be sure to include the important goals that advance the area/unit toward its vision. Goals do not need to address policy, procedures, or operations as these should be addressed in other documents (OPs, operational handbooks, etc.)

Planning and Assessment Workshop STRATEGIC PLANNING: REVISING THE UNIT STRATEGIC PLAN Suggestions: Keep the number of goals limited to those most critical to achieving department’s vision. Use only benchmarks that are clearly measurable (quantitative or qualitative measures may be used) and directly relate to the goal. Engage staff and students in the revision of strategic plans.

Planning and Assessment Workshop Technical Aspects – Strategic Planning & Assessment Reports Basic content on Strategic Planning and Assessment Reports homepage: Welcome statement; scrolling news; strategic plans and assessment reports; related links; stratplan help; dashboard; login option

Planning and Assessment Workshop Getting Started Login using eraider Must have “privileges” assigned to an area or unit to login Division/department leader is given privileges Then, leader assigns privileges to others Others may edit and/or review reports

Planning and Assessment Workshop A short demonstration Managing Users/URL Managing Assessment Reports – 4 sections Locking (submitting reports)

Planning and Assessment Workshop Goal/Accomplishments Goal/Accomplishments a listing of the strategic plan’s goals and accomplishments for each goal for the year Universal Quantitative DataUniversal Quantitative Data data for academic departments only Area/Unit Specific InformationArea/Unit Specific Information data sets created by each area (division) and unit (department) Strategic Planning UpdateStrategic Planning Update commentary and implementation plan based on assessments

Planning and Assessment Workshop SUGGESTIONS for preparing and using assessment reports: Allow others in division/department to contribute to and/or review reports Incorporate information from staff (publications, elected offices, awards, etc.) Hold an annual meeting to review and discuss the assessment report (and then document meeting and the decisions made during the meeting)

Planning and Assessment Workshop SUGGESTIONS (continued): Ensure that assessment reports are: Consistent with strategic plan Complete (provide information in all sections) Accurate and meaningful Timely (update plan and assessments as needed) Useful (and are used by area/unit) Each year verify links to strategic plan and contact information Remember to document what has been assessed and how the assessment led to improvements

Planning and Assessment Workshop Who uses these assessment reports? Two other questions will help answer this question: Who prepared the report? – use the reports as a form of self-study for improvement Who received the report? – use the reports to discuss planning and resource allocation with directors, associate vice presidents, vice president

Planning and Assessment Workshop QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS? THANK YOU!