Assessment at the University of New Orleans is a vital component of the
ongoing process of improving student learning. At UNO that process is one
of Plan – Implement – Assess or PIA. The PIA process for an academic
unit is represented pictorially in the Academic
Department PIA.
Implementation and Planning
The Department develops an IE Plan. The Plan contains measurable objectives.
The Department strives to meet each objective through a series of strategies
which form the IE Implementation. Those strategies which involve additional
funding can be addressed via several sources. If implementation of the strategy
would directly benefit students and involves technology, then the Department
may choose to submit a proposal to the Student Technology Fee Committee (STF)
which reports to the Strategic Planning and Implementation Group (STPIG).
Recommendations on funding are decided by the Provost and reported to the
University Planning Committee (UPCOM). In addition, the Department may seek
internal funding in support of the implementation. Typically such requests
are included in the Academic Excellence Plan (AEP) of the Department. The
AEP may also include any requests for external funding. The Department AEP
is forwarded to the Dean who may choose to include the request in the College
AEP which is sent to UPCOM. Once a year UPCOM meets to make recommendations
on funding of the various College AEPs. These recommendations are sent to
the Executive Committee which makes recommendations to the Budget Committee
and, finally, the Provost and Chancellor who make the ultimate decision.
Assessment
The Dean’s decision
on Departmental AEPs is heavily influenced by the IE Assessment of the
Departmental IE Plan. The IE Assessment is included in the packet of information
sent to the Academic Program Review Council. This packet also includes any
departmental self study, information gathered for accrediting agencies, department
specific information in the ACT Student Opinion Survey and any general education
assessments for gened courses offered by the Department. Results of the Academic
Review are reported to the Dean and the Provost.
A similar PIA process as depicted in the College
PIA. Assessment of the
Dean includes the assessment of the College IE Plan, information gathered
for accrediting agencies, the results of academic review of departments
in the college, college specific information in the ACT Student Opinion
Survey and the results from the University-wide review of the Dean.
