Category: annual assessment

Academic programs and certain certificate programs are required to identify student learning outcomes, and map those outcomes to their curriculum through a curriculum map. Programs will assess one outcome per year and report on that assessment in Nuventive – Mason’s assessment management system.

Annual Assessment Templates

All academic and student support units must enter the unit’s mission statement, goals, objectives, methods and measures, results and analysis, and improvement plans as shown in the templates below (COMING SOON).

Resources

For more information on administrative unit assessment and worksheets, please refer to the resources below.

• OIEP’s YouTube Channel

Student Learning Outcomes Assessment for Academic ProgramsThe 2021-2022 Assessment Feedback Rubric is a guide for academic annual assessment.

The following examples of annual assessment elements were submitted by programs at Mason.

• Mission Statements
• Curriculum Maps
  • BA/BS Film and Video Studies
  • BA/BS Conflict Analysis and Resolution
  • MS Applied Information Technology
• Student Learning Outcomes
• Assessment Plans
  • BA Global Affairs
  • BS Information Technology
  • JD Law

Assessment Schedule

Academic Units

All degree programs must enter the following by June 30, 2024:

• Fill out the Measures, Findings and Improvement Plans for the student learning outcome (SLO) assessed in 2023-24.
• Fill out Improvements Made to report on steps taken from previous assessment cycles to improve student learning.
• Update the mission statement, SLOs and curriculum map, if necessary.
• New degree programs need to have a mission statement, curriculum map, and student learning outcomes.

Stand-alone and Gainful Employment Certificate Programs

• Fill out the Measures, Findings and Improvement Plans for any student learning and/or program outcome assessed in 2023-24.
• Update the mission statement and outcomes, if necessary.
• New stand-alone certificate programs should have a mission and at least one student learning outcome and one program outcome

Please visit Assessment and Reporting: Certificate Programs and Gainful Employment Disclosures more information.

All administrative units are required to identify goals and assess outcomes in support of the University’s Strategic Direction. These goals should be clearly aligned to the mission of the unit and focus on strengthening and improving critical functions, services and processes that impact stakeholder satisfaction, and or initiatives and projects that contribute to the university’s ability to achieve its strategic goals.

Annual Assessment Using Nuventive

All administrative units must enter the unit’s mission statement, goals, objectives, methods and measures, results and analysis, and improvement plans into Nuventive as shown in the example below.

[Unit Name]
Goals/Objectives	Methods and Measures	Results and Analysis	Improvement Plans
[Goal 1]
[Objective 1]	[Methods and Measures] How was the objective measured? As appropriate, include details such as the achievement target (if not already embedded in objective), when the assessment took place, and responsible parties.	[Results] Brief overview of results. May be narrative, tabular, graphic or combination. Include whether the objective was Met, Partially Met or Not Met. Attach supporting documentation as appropriate. [Analysis] What conclusions can be drawn from the results? Indicate strengths or if was notable progress made. Indicate any issues that will require special/continued attention.	[Improvement Plans] Describe the actions to be taken based on the findings of this assessment. How will proposed changes be implemented? If no changes need to be made, please explain.Indicate the following if known:Individual(s) responsible for action(s) Target date for action Priority (High/Medium/Low) Additional Resources Needed, if any
[Objective 2]
[Goal 2]
[Objective 1]
[Objective 2]
[Objective 3]

Resources

For more information on administrative unit assessment and worksheets, please refer to the resources below.

• OIEP’s YouTube Channel
• Administrative Assessment Guide
• Administrative Assessment Template (Word)
• Administrative Assessment Template (Excel)

Assessment Schedule

All administrative units must complete their annual assessment report in Nuventive by June 30, 2024:

• Mission statement, goals, and objectives
• Methods & measures, results & analysis, and improvement plans for the objectives assessed in AY 2023-24

Administrative Units Reporting in Nuventive

Administrative Units Reporting in Nuventive
Office of the President	Athletics Audit, Risk and Compliance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Government and Community Relations University Advancement and Alumni Relations University Branding
Office of the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration	Auxiliary Services and Operations Capital Strategy and Planning Facilities and Campus Operations Finance Human Resources Information Technology Services Safety, Emergency, and Enterprise Risk Management Strategic Planning and Budgeting
Office of the Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff	University Business Consultants University Counsel University Police
Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs	Accreditation and Compliance ADVANCE Continuing and Professional Education Global Education Graduate Education INTO Mason Mason Online Undergraduate Education University Registrar
Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Administration	Provost Budget Provost Personnel Management Provost Project Management
Office of the Vice President for Enrollment Management	Admissions Business Intelligence Marketing Student Financial Aid
Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Development	Faculty Affairs and Development Stearns Center
Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning	OIEP
Office of the Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact	Community and Economic Initiatives Research and Innovation Initiatives Research Services
University Libraries	University Libraries
Deans’ Offices	Antonin Scalia School of Law Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution College of Engineering and Computing College of Education and Human Development College of Humanities and Social Sciences College of Public Health College of Science College of Visual and Performing Arts Honors College Mason Korea Schar School of Policy and Government School of Business

As an accredited institution in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Mason’s academic and administrative units are expected to participate in ongoing outcomes assessment and reporting.1  This process supports continuous improvement and improved decision-making, as well as regional accreditation and state requirements for the assessment of student learning. The university has moved to an annual assessment schedule, and all degree programs and administrative units need to report assessment plans and findings on an annual basis. Regardless of a unit’s Academic Program Review or external accreditation schedule, annual assessment reporting is a university-wide activity required of all degree programs and administrative units.

Relationship to Academic Program Review (APR)

APR and annual assessment are complementary processes. Programs should use the same learning outcomes, measures, and findings for each process.

Relationship to Co-Curricular Program Review (CCPR)
CCPR and annual assessment are complementary processes. The Action Plan for Co-Curricular Program Review should be developed in alignment with the annual assessment plan in mind.

1 Principles 7.3 and 8.2, The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, 2018, Third Edition, First Printing, https://sacscoc.org/accrediting-standards/

For more information about annual assessment, contact oiep@gmu.edu.