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The following statements represent both institutional policies governing required assessment practices at Northern Arizona University and external policies according to which NAU is evaluated by its accrediting body. The external policies (NCA Criteria for Accreditation) have been reviewed and adopted by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. The institutional assessment policies have been reviewed and adopted by the NAU Assessment Committee and approved by the NAU Presidential Cabinet. These institutional assessment policies do not constitute the entire scope of assessment practice at NAU. They simply state those practices officially required by the institution. Recommendations and guidelines for effective assessment practice can be located under the Assessment Information section of this web site (see navigation bar on left side of screen).
NAU's Assessment Policy is stated below. To view an official copy of the policy statement,
click here.
Fundamental to both external and institutional policies is that student learning be assessed:
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at the course, degree-program, and institutional levels
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for graduate as well as undergraduate learning
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in electronic as well as face-to-face instruction
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in distributed/distance instruction as well as mountain campus instructional settings
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
has adopted detailed criteria for evaluating and accrediting affiliated
institutions. Note the explicit importance attributed to assessment
of student learning outcomes in criteria 3 and 4.
http://www.ncacihe.org/restructuring/newcriteria/NewCriteria.pdf
The
NAU Assessment
Committee is the official institutional body responsible for creating
and recommending policies which govern assessment practices across
the university. After review by the President’s Cabinet, the
NAU Provost’s Office is responsible for reviewing and approving
assessment policies for the institution.
The NAU Liberal Studies Committee establishes policies for assessment
of the liberal studies curriculum. Assessment of student learning
outcomes for the general education requirements of the liberal studies
curriculum is the responsibility of the Office of Academic Assessment.
The assessment plan and reports for the liberal studies program will
be treated by the Assessment Committee as a degree program plan/report.
For more information, see the
Liberal
Studies section of this web site.
For rationale, procedures, and recommendations for practice, please
see the Degree
Programs section of this web site:
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Each academic unit designates an assessment liaison.
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Each academic unit selects an annual assessment report due date.
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Each academic unit provides a plan for the assessment of student
learning outcomes in each degree program offered, regardless of
delivery mode or location of study.
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Each academic unit submits an annual assessment report for each
degree program by the due date.
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Assessment plans and reports are reviewed by the NAU Assessment
Committee. The Assessment Committee works with the academic unit
to revise the assessment plan or report as indicated.
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Assessment plans and reports, once reviewed by the NAU Assessment
Committee, will be posted to the OAA website.
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Each academic unit includes documentation (plans and reports)
of the use of the assessment of student learning outcomes in their
seven-year Arizona Board of Regents Academic Program Reviews (effective
for all reviews beginning 2003-04 and thereafter).
For rationale, procedures, and recommendations for practice, please
see the Course
Strategies section of this web site:
- Each course syllabus clearly states intended learning outcomes.
- Each course syllabus clearly states how learning outcomes will
be assessed.
The Office of Academic Assessment uses PDF files to display documents.
Adobe
 Reader
is required to view and print PDF's and can be downloaded free of
charge.
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