Academic and Student Support Services
ASSESSMENT REPORTING OVERVIEW
- Comprehensive Assessment Plan
- Annual Assessment Report
- Continuous Improvement Review
ACADEMIC AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICE UNIT ASSESSMENT
Academic and student support service unit assessment is the process for collecting and reviewing data related to student achievement (e.g., enrollment, retention, completion) and the effectiveness of the unit’s operations (e.g., promoting student outreach, improving user satisfaction, enhancing service delivery) and using that information to not only continuously enhance student services and cultivate student success, but also to align initiatives, policies, and operational procedures with the institution's mission and strategic plan.
DEFINING ACADEMIC AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICE UNITS
Academic and student support service units are units that make a contribution to the institutional mission of UTRGV. These units have a predominantly student-oriented purpose or function. They provide a direct service to students, develop programs or experiences for prospective or current students, and support students at various points during their academic career at UTRGV. These units typically deal with advising, recruiting, counseling services, financial aid, student life, registration, and special programs that support the student experience. Units in this area are largely located within the Division of Academic Success, the Division of Strategic Enrollment and the Division of Academic Affairs and select units within the Division of the President and the Division of Finance and Administration. Also Included are academic colleges and departments given their significant role in supporting student success.
- 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
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 about 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
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Resources
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
Academic and Student Support Service Units have a student-oriented purpose or function. In Academic and Student Support Service Units, student learning outcomes, student achievement outcomes
and administrative outcomes are assessed. Improvements made in Academic and Student Support Service Units are typically designed to positively impact students and the student experience. Examples of improvements made to Academic and Student Support Service Units include, but are not limited to:- Development of new materials for advising and recruiting
Implementation of new student experiences- Implementation of new learning opportunities
- Development of targeted programs for special populations
- Creation of committees or advisory boards
- New or revised marketing campaigns
- New or additional outreach events/experiences
- Improved or new service delivery options (e.g., create an online option)
- New or revised operational processes
- New or revised services
- New or revised workshops or
training - New partnerships
- New internship experiences or sites
- New policies, manuals, guides or
training