Academic Assessment Committee

Academic Assessment Committee (AAC)

Description and Bylaws

Document Number: COMMITTEE – AAC- 107d
Revision #: 1.0
Document Owner: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Date Last Updated: 07/23/2020
Date Originally Created: 07/23/2020

Description
The purpose of the Academic Assessment Committee is to advise, facilitate, and monitor the process of institutional effectiveness and assessment of educational programs (educational programs are defined to be any program that grants a degree) at Cumberland University. This committee is charged with the responsibility to educate and train the program directors and faculty at large with regard to assessment and planning processes; to set the assessment and planning timeline and communicate it clearly to the program directors and faculty; to evaluate final assessment reports from academic program directors following the completion of each cycle, giving appropriate and timely feedback; and to facilitate and monitor compliance with SACSCOC accreditation criteria related to institutional effectiveness and assessment of educational programs.

Along with the University Support Assessment Committee (USAC), the Academic Assessment Committee (AAC) shares the principal responsibility of overseeing the campus-wide integrated and systematic process of assessment for the purpose of institutional improvement and achievement of outcomes and objectives to meet the University Mission.
By-Laws

2.1 Committee Composition

1. To ensure adequately informed representation of the educational programs of the University, the Academic Assessment Committee will consist of members from each of the academic schools of the University.

2. Each school representative on the AAC will be recommended by the dean of the respective school and appointed by the Provost. Beginning in the spring semester of 2020, the following rotation will occur for appointment of new members from the academic schools.
1. Spring 2020 – Members of the committee from the Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions will be appointed in January of 2020 as “members-elect” and every three years afterward.
2. Spring 2021 – Members of the School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts will be appointed in January of 2021 as “members-elect” and every three years afterward.
3. Spring 2022 – Members of the Labry School of Science, Technology, and Business will be appointed in January of 2022 as “members-elect” and every three years afterward.
3. AAC members will serve three-year terms and may be reappointed for two consecutive terms, as deemed appropriate by the respective school dean and the Provost. Terms will end at the end of the academic year in May, providing overlap with members-elect for training and continuity purposes. In cases where committee members vacate a position prior to the end of their term of appointment, special appointment will be made to fill the open position by the respective school dean and approved by the Provost.

4. The AAC will be chaired by the Director of Institutional Effectiveness.
1. It is the role of the Committee Chair to communicate with the Provost regularly to convey the committee’s activity.
2. It is the role of the Committee Chair to guide the operations of the AAC.
3. It is the role of the Committee Chair, with the assistance of the Secretary, to ensure that proceedings of this committee’s works are appropriately communicated to the faculty and staff.
4. It is the role of the Committee Chair to designate specific responsibilities to individual AAC members as deemed necessary.
5. The Secretary of the AAC will be elected from the members at the last meeting of each spring semester.
1. It is the role of the Secretary to document committee activities including minutes from meetings, important electronic communications, and external meetings that concern AAC assignments.
2. The Secretary will also assist the Committee Chair in communicating the activities of the committee to the university community.
6. The committee will meet at least once per semester and additionally when deemed necessary by the Committee Chair.To eliminate unnecessary meetings, other communications will also occur by email.

2.2 Role of Committee

The role of the AAC is to evaluate, assess, approve, and make recommendations concerning institutional effectiveness and assessment of educational programs and to facilitate campus-wide integrated and systematic assessment for the purpose of improving and meeting the University Mission. The AAC will:

1. Promote effective planning of assessment between educational programs of the University.

2. Consult with, train, and educate program directors and faculty about the planning and assessment process.

3. Assist program directors and faculty with assessment projects.

4. Make recommendations on educational program assessment plans to help ensure that they are linked to the University Mission - working with Academic Affairs.

5. Edit and Approve the Assessment Handbook as needed - working with the USAC and Academic Affairs.

6. Work with Academic Affairs, the USAC, and other bodies to help build a campus-wide culture of assessment, where assessment is effectively utilized.

7. Make recommendations on and help facilitate the process of General Education Core (GEC) assessment.

8. Aid in the assessment process of the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan.

9. Facilitate the compliance of the University with all Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation standards.

2.3 University Committees Development

The AAC shall be advisory to the Provost and the President on the development of committees and subcommittees that will facilitate assessment and improvement of the University.

2.4 Committee Guidelines and By-Law Interpretation

All decisions by the AAC will be made by a majority vote of the members, as long as a quorum of voting members exists. A quorum exists when a simple majority of voting members is participating in the decision.