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.