Introduction

Georgia College is committed to assessment processes that enable it to better understand the effectiveness of its programs and services and as a means for identifying areas for improvement. The University is also committed to using the results of assessment to make needed changes and to advance its strategic directions.

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness provides leadership for the university's assessment program. Its Director is responsible for working with college and division Assessment Coordinators to support assessment efforts and to provide valuable expertise, assistance, and resources to units involved in assessment processes. The Director is also responsible for working with others to ensure that the university meets institutional effectiveness accreditation requirements.

Office of Institutional Research

The Office of Institutional Research provides analytical support for the university's planning and assessment program by conducting appropriate studies and through the compilation, analysis and interpretation of data. The Director serves as the university's official liaison to the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.

Unit Level Responsibility

Each university unit led by an administrator at the level of coordinator or above (e.g., director, chair, assistant vice president) must develop an annual assessment plan and report. The lead administrator of the unit is responsible for guiding and monitoring unit-level assessment and for ensuring unit-level compliance with university assessment procedures, timelines, etc.

College and Vice President Division Responsibility

The university has four colleges (arts & sciences, business, education, health sciences) and four major divisions (academic affairs, student affairs, business & finance, university advancement). In addition, a number of offices report to the university's Vice President and Chief of Staff, who serves as the principal aide to the president.

Each college dean and vice president is responsible for designating an Assessment Coordinator to facilitate and oversee assessment in that college or division, with the exception of the Division of Academic Affairs, which has two assessment coordinators. College and division Assessment Coordinators may work through a committee structure appropriate for their areas of responsibility and in such cases serve as chairpersons of those committees.

Due to its size and complexity, the Division of Academic Affairs has two assessment coordinators. One assessment coordinator has primary responsibility for assisting the Provost with the overall coordination of academic assessment functions, including assessment for the general education program and compliance with University System of Georgia comprehensive program review requirements. A second assessment coordinator has primary responsibility for assessment in the academic support and outreach functions of the division (e.g., admissions, registrar, financial aid, Old Governor's Mansion, extended university).

Assessment Coordinators are responsible to the appropriate dean or vice president for the oversight of college or division assessment plans and reports. They serve as advisors and facilitators to units engaged in assessment processes and work through their committees to monitor assessment and continuous improvement processes in their college or division. Each college or division Assessment Coordinator serves on the University Assessment Committee and submits an annual college or division assessment report (to the appropriate dean or divisional vice president and also to the University Assessment Committee).

University Assessment Committee

The University Assessment Committee is composed of college and division Assessment Coordinators and up to four at-large members with expertise and interest in assessment and institutional improvement. This committee is supported by the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and the Director of Institutional Research and reports jointly to the Vice President & Chief of Staff and the Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The University Assessment Committee is responsible for reviewing assessment best practices, for formulating appropriate policy and procedures for the University's assessment program, and for the overall management and effectiveness of the university's assessment program. The committee assists with the implementation of approved university institutional effectiveness policy and procedures, reviews college and divisional assessment programs and reports, and provides an annual report to the university President documenting strength and weaknesses of the university's overall effort in assessment and continuous improvement. The University Assessment Committee is also responsible for working with administrators, faculty and staff to identify policy and procedure improvements for the university's assessment program. All policy recommendations must be brought forward through appropriate governance processes.

The University Assessment Committee has two standing subcommittees: the Learning Outcomes Assessment Subcommittee (chaired by a member of the faculty), which focuses on assessment related to student learning outcomes, and the Institutional, Academic, and Student Support Assessment Subcommittee (chaired by a professional staff member), which focuses on assessment in all other areas.