Assessment

Institutional effectiveness, defined as the degree to which an institution is having an intended effect toward meeting its mission, supports informing the university’s progress toward meeting its mission, supporting student success, the student experience and the experience of its stakeholders.

Program & Unit Assessment Pathways 

Educational program and administrative unit assessment activities are aligned to the university's planning and budgeting processes, with oversight by the Chancellor, Cabinet and UNCW Board of Trustees. Data from valid internal and external sources are utilized to inform and support evidence-based decision making. There are key assessment pathways for educational programs and administrative units.

• Annual Academic Program Outcomes Assessment monitors Educational Programs’ operational and student learning outcomes, and how the program supports and emphasizes University’s Undergraduate Student Learning Outcomes for general education. Outcome targets are evaluated, and continuous improvement action plans are developed, and progress is documented on a yearly basis. These reports are reviewed by the administrative unit leadership team. 
• Annual Administrative Unit Outcomes Assessment monitors administrative units’ operational outcomes and student services that support student success and their co-curricular student learning outcomes. Outcome targets are evaluated, and continuous improvement action plans are developed, and progress is documented on a yearly basis. These reports are reviewed by the faculty, department chair and college leadership team.
• Academic Program Review is a comprehensive review of an educational program that occurs every seven years and has a focus on a student & workforce demand, student success outcomes, program costs & productivity, return on investment, and contributions to North Carolina citizens. This report is reviewed by University leadership, Board of Trustees, and UNC System Office.
• Biennial Productivity Review is completed on educational programs every two years. This evaluation addresses academic program student demand, credentials produced, post-grad employment & earnings, return on investment. This information is reviewed by the UNC System Board of Governors.

In addition, many of UNCW educational programs monitor on performance metrics aligned to disciplinary accrediting agencies, university strategic initiatives, quality enhancement plan, and/or general education assessment activities to identify the emphasis of university student learning outcomes.

Assessment activities are supported through dedicated specialized technologies managed through the Office of Institutional Effectiveness in collaboration with stakeholders across campus.

University Assessment Council

The University Assessment Council is convened by the Associate Provost of Institutional Research and Planning and is comprised of assessment representatives across the university to contribute to and support informed decision making as it relates to institutional effectiveness and strategic planning. 

Upon Council review and discussion of assessment findings and current processes, recommendations on student learning, educational programs, general education, student support services, and administrative units are presented, as appropriate, to the Chancellor's Cabinet, the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the University Studies Advisory Committee and others as warranted. The mission of the UAC is to: 

• Coordinate the systematic collection, evaluation and use of information for the purpose of improving student learning, enriching the student experience, and enhancing the quality of educational programs and services.
• Provide oversight and direction for assessment of the UNCW learning goals through general education assessment and annually evaluates progress toward those goals.
• Review alignment of educational program and administrative unit outcomes with strategic priorities and regional/specialized accreditation requirements.
• Coordinate the sharing of annual assessment reporting expectations while providing a forum for the discussion of assessment practices and activities.
• Review the quality of assessment plans and reports and identifies faculty and staff assessment training needs.
• Monitor institutional effectiveness initiatives to create a culture of assessment.
• Critique and evaluates the university’s current assessment practice, including the supporting educational technologies, for the purpose of continuous improvement.