Administrative Support Services
ASSESSMENT REPORTING OVERVIEW
Administrative support service units are required to submit the following assessment reports:
- Comprehensive Assessment Plan
- Annual Assessment Report
- Continuous Improvement Review
Administrative support service unit assessment is the process for collecting and reviewing data related to the effectiveness of the unit’s operations (e.g., increasing operational efficiency, improving user satisfaction, enhancing service delivery) and using that information to not only continuously improve the functions of a department or unit, but also to align initiatives, policies, and operational procedures with the institution's mission and strategic plan.
DEFINING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICE UNIT ASSESSMENT
Administrative support service units are units that make a contribution, whether direct or indirect, to the institutional mission of UTRGV. The primary function of these units is to support the administrative operations of the institution. Although these units may provide services to students, the benefit to students may be less apparent or direct. Administrative support service units deal with a diverse range of issues including financial activities, human resources, and research administration. These units are largely located within the Division of the President, the Division of Advancement, Division of Finance and Administration, Division of Governmental and Community Relations, and service offices and institutionally funded centers within the Division of Academic Affairs.
- Use the Comprehensive Assessment Plan Rubric to ensure that your unit’s assessment plan meets UTRGV’s expectations.
- Frequently Asked Questions about the New Assessment Framework
For other useful information please visit our Resources page.
Comprehensive Assessment Plan
The Comprehensive Assessment Plan serves as an assessment roadmap covering the four-year data collection period (2021-2025) under the New Assessment Framework. It
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Reporting Templates
Annual Assessment Report
On an annual basis, units are expected to provide retrospective reports of assessment results, analysis of assessment data, and plans/actions for using results to maintain or improve the quality.
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Reporting Timeline
Over the four-year data collection period (2021-2022; 2022-2023; 2023-2024; 2024-2025), units are expected to submit Annual Assessment Reports that detail assessment results, analysis of assessment data, and plans/actions for using results to maintain or improve operation and/or service delivery.
Annual Assessment Reports for the 2022-2023 assessment period are due in PSS beginning on October 1, 2023.
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Expectations
Measures and Results
Identify the measure(s) and benchmark(s) for the outcomes assessed during the previous year and provide results for each measure.
Summary of Results
Identify whether the results from your measure(s) indicates that the outcome was met, partially met, or not met. If applicable, compare current results to prior results for this outcome. Also, describe how results were shared with faculty, staff, and/or others concerned with your support service unit. Be prepared to provide documentation that results were shared. Examples of dissemination of evidence include departmental retreat, newsletters, reports, websites, emails, etc.
Analysis
Describe what desegregating the data revealed the pattern of strengths and weaknesses in the
achievement of the outcome. Also, provide an evaluation of the assessment methods by describing the strengths and weaknesses of the assessment process. The information provided in this section will guide responses to the Improvements section of the Annual Assessment Results Report.Improvements
Identify and describe any efforts to seek improvements/enhancements to the support service unit’s operations/service delivery (e.g., service changes, departmental policy changes, personnel or resource allocation changes, technology changes, etc.) and/or the assessment processes (expected outcome statements, measures, benchmarks, assessment instrument, etc.). If improvements/enhancements were implemented, be prepared to provide documentation of when and how they were implemented via meeting minutes, policies, and/or memos and reflect on any lessons learned from changes that are in progress or implemented.
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Reporting Templates
Improvement Report
The Improvement Report documents modifications/enhancements implemented by the support service unit or educational program during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 assessment periods to seek improvements in student learning, departmental operations, service delivery, and/or its assessment methods. The focus of the Improvement Report is not on future modifications or planned enhancements. Instead, the report is a retrospective summary of improvements/enhancements that are implemented.
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Reporting Timeline
2021-2023 Improvement Reports are due November 1, 2023 via email assessment@utrgv.edu. -
Expectations
All support service units and educational programs participating in the institutional assessment process (master list) are expected to submit an Improvement Report. The Improvement Report will be submitted by the Assessment Coordinator for the unit or program. (If a new Assessment Coordinator has recently been appointed, then s/he may need the assistance of the previous Assessment Coordinator to complete the report).
Improvements reported should be derived from data collected through the institutional assessment process (i.e., unit assessment and program assessment) implemented over the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 assessment periods. The report should be focused on improvements that support the mission of the institution, division, college, department, program or unit.
The Improvement Report should not be based solely on anecdotal data; however, anecdotal may be included. Most units/programs at UTRGV were actively engaged in developing and evaluating policies, programs, processes, organizational structures, resources and the like. As a result, more efficient processes, clearer policies, new initiatives, additional resources, etc. have been put in place to support the continuous improvement of UTRGV. If your unit/program has made any of these types of improvements, you may include them on the Improvement Report in addition to your data-driven improvements.
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Reporting Template
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Examples
Administrative Support Service Units have a broad institutional purpose and support the mission of the institution. In Administrative Support Service Units, administrative outcomes are assessed. Improvements made in Administrative Support Service Units are designed to positively impact the operational efficiency of the institution and to enhance the services received by all members of the campus community. Examples of improvements made to Administrative Support Service Units include, but are not limited to:
- Personnel or resource allocation changes
- Implementation of new technology to provide service or improve processes
- New or revised services
- New or revised approval processes
- New or revised administrative oversight
- Use of office space
- Development of an internal or external advisory board
- Acquisition of new resources
- New policies, manuals, guides or
training - New staff experiences