The purpose of Academic Affairs assessment is to help faculty and staff identify the goals for their department/program/office. The assessment is overseen by the Director who works with faculty and staff to strengthen assessment plans and to review assessment results.
Each department/program which graduates majors has a set of learning outcomes that documents what students will be able to do at the end of their degree program. Each department/program develops and maintains an assessment plan that outlines how they assess their learning outcomes and submits an annual report that assesses attainment of these learning outcomes. The assessment plans and annual reports are archived on the Nexus Assessment Site.
All departments/programs also undergo periodic external reviews, and the results are used to improve student learning, improve pedagogy, and revise academic programs and services.
Offices within Academic Affairs work with faculty/students in a variety of ways to advance the educational mission of the college. Each office has a set of goals which guides their work and provide a framework for determining objectives for their offices each year. Each office develops and maintains an assessment plan and submits an annual report that outlines attainment of current objectives as well as plans for future objectives. The assessment plans and annual reports are archived on the Nexus Assessment Site.
The Director guides assessment and provides expertise and support for the Dean of the Faculty, academic affairs offices administrators, and academic department chairs and program directors to plan, implement, and evaluate meaningful assessment activities. These activities work to enhance student learning and improve administrative operations in academic affairs. The Director reports to the Dean of the Faculty/Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Assessment is an important part of the accreditation process and the assessment requirements and guidelines provided by our external accreditors are incorporated into the assessment processes of Academic Affairs.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE): Assessment of Student Learning is covered in Standard V, Educational Effectiveness Assessment. Office Assessment of Institutional Effectiveness is covered in MSCHE's Requirements of Affiliation.
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET): Union's engineering programs are ABET-accredited. Assessment is covered in Criterion 4 of the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
