Ohio University's Multidimensional Institutional Impact and Assessment Plan

Abstract

This chapter describes Ohio University's transition from curiosity about the institution-wide impact of assessment on students to program-and department-based assessment for improving teaching, learning, and student services.Ohio University' s Multidimensional Institutional Impact and Assessment Plan A. Michael WillifordThis chapter describes an institutional commitment on the part of Ohio University to assess its students that began in 1981 and has grown steadily for over fifteen years. Ohio University' s assessment program, the Institutional Impact Project, has evolved from general curiosity about program quality to a commitment to assess its students continually. Although the state of Ohio has never mandated assessment in any form, since 1981 Ohio University has been using student assessment.In 1981, Ohio University made an institutional commitment to using student assessment information in program review, curriculum planning, and academic program planning. Academic colleges, planning groups, individual departments, and trustees rely on outcomes information for both short-term and long-term planning and decision making. One purpose of student assessment in Ohio University' s planning processes is to assist in improving the performance of programs and students. This is accomplished by providing academic units (colleges, schools, and departments) with regular updates on the progress of students and an assessment of their programs.Through its planning and information systems, Ohio University regularly makes available to its units institutional, college, and departmental data. It has an ongoing system of quality improvement that has become part of its institutional culture. For example, the Office of Institutional Research provides the colleges and departments with data on student demographics, course enrollments, and faculty staffing and productivity to assist them in their program evaluation and planning needs.