Compliance Review

The institution identifies expected outcomes for its educational programs and its administrative and educational support services; assesses whether it achieves these outcomes; and provides evidence of improvement based on analysis of those results.

The Committee finds that NSU identifies expected learning outcomes (ELOs) for its academic programs.   The assessment methodology and results achieved are systematically documented with supporting data, and academic programs provide evidence of change resulting from the assessment.   While references to graduate programs predominantly designate a number of outcomes specific to graduate-level education, in the case of the Master of Science in Nursing no data on the achievement of learning outcomes are reported.  

Objectives that relate to the University's mission and goals are clearly defined for administrative and educational support service units, with documented evidence of assessment and decisions based on resulting data for many of these units.   The linkage between department objectives and University goals is a particularly strong element of this process.

While the ACT Student Opinion Survey, Graduating Student Survey, and the Graduate Student Exit Survey are cited as assessment tools for several educational support units (e.g., library and technology), no specific data are provided that enable the Committee to understand the effectiveness of these services or how the outcomes of the referenced assessments are used for improvement.

Similarly, the document states that the institution "is confident that the current [Northwestern State Technology Enrichment Plan] . . . significantly contributes to student learning and enhances the overall quality of instruction," but no documentation was found to support this statement.   Computer literacy is provided in core courses, but no assessment strategy is identified to show that this general education goal is achieved.   If the goal is not achieved, no plan for improvement is documented.

Assessment is well-integrated into the daily operations of Northwestern.  The University’s strategic planning model includes individualized objectives, strategies, assessment methodologies, and decisions based on data used to support the University’s goals.  Additionally, expected learning outcomes are identified for all degree programs where data are collected to support needed program changes¹.  Educational support units also engage assessment methodologies to evaluate the effectiveness or to demonstrate how these methodologies drive efforts to improve services. 

The University defines its educational support units as the offices that compose the Academic Affairs Council.  Included are the Office of Institutional Research, the Office of University Planning & Assessment, the Office of Information Systems, the University Registrar and Admissions Office, Watson Libraries, the Office of Electronic & Continuing Education, and the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs. 

As educational support units, each of these offices annually engages assessment methodologies to evaluate the effectiveness of their services or demonstrate how these methodologies drive efforts to improve services.  In the case of educational support units, assessment of effectiveness is typically represented through participation and satisfaction data.  Participation refers to information regarding the individuals or units requesting service and the types of services provided by a particular support unit.   Satisfaction deals with the contentment of those participating or receiving services from a specific support unit.  Participation and satisfaction data are collected engaging both standardized instruments (e.g. ACT Student Opinion Survey) as well as institutionally designed instruments (e.g. Graduate Student Exit Survey).

By clicking on the links below, the outcomes, assessment data, and evidence of improvement for each educational support unit can be viewed.

• Office of Electronic & Continuing Education

• Office of Information Systems

• Office of Institutional Research

• Watson Libraries

• University Registrar and Admissions Office

• Office of Research & Sponsored Programs

• Office of University Planning & Assessment

The most common way in which this assessment and review of data occurs is through the utilization of the University’s Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP)², specifically goals one and two.  Within this electronic system, each unit identifies its mission, objectives, and strategies which are part of the overall University mission and goals.  This process also includes documentation of collected data and accomplishments and how these pieces are used to make decisions for the next academic year. 

The University noted that among the committee’s findings for Comprehensive Standard 3.3.1 that there is the need for the University to provide documentation relative to the Northwestern State Technology Enrichment Plan (NSTEP) and computer literacy provided in core courses.  It was determined by the University and communicated to its SACS liaison that this finding was noted verbatim as part of the committee’s response in Comprehensive Standard 3.4.14.  In the Focused Report, the University provided its response related to these issues in Comprehensive Standard 3.4.14.

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¹ While the offsite team noted that graduate programs predominantly designated a number of outcomes specific to graduate-level education, in the case of the master of science degree in nursing, no data on the achievement of learning outcomes were found; however, the University verifies that data for this degree program were available for review.  To access data, click on the + next to Degree Program Expected Learning Outcomes.  Then, click on the + next to Degree Program Methodology and Results.  Then, click on the + next to Degree Program Changes.

 ² To navigate the CIP system, access the Continuous Improvement Plan.  Once the grid displays all units, select one of the educational support units.  This will allow viewing of all information noted  in the above paragraph.  Double-clicking on any of the plus (+) signs will expand that section for review.