Institutional Planning & Program Evaluation

• Overview
• Master Plan
• Institutional Effectiveness Assessment
• Instructional Program Review
• Research Review Committee
• Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability

Overview

ACC is dedicated to student success and excellence in the teaching and learning environment. As required by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), we demonstrate our commitment to the quality of student learning through a systematic process of planning, evaluation, and research-based improvements at both the institutional and departmental levels. Faculty, staff, and the administration share this responsibility.  Faculty are responsible for participating in their department’s planning and assessment activities, including Instructional Program Review and Unit Level Effectiveness Assessment Documentation (ULEAD).  Department Chairs and Deans are responsible for documenting effectiveness assessment activities.

For more information visit the institutional effectiveness web page at http://www.austincc.edu/oiepub/initiatives/effectiveness/

Master Plan

The ACC Master Plan is a multi-year, cohesive framework for focusing on student learning that reflects the priorities of the college and the strategies for accomplishing stated objectives. The Master Plan process is a shared governance function that elicits input from all areas of the institution.  Faculty participate through the Credit Instruction Cluster Group and the Program Review process.

For more information, visit http://www.austincc.edu/mastplan/.
Read the full board policy at http://www.austincc.edu/board/policies/E1.htm.

Institutional Effectiveness Assessment

The effectiveness of College-wide programs and services (Academic Transfer Programs, Workforce Programs, Developmental Education, Adult Education, Student Services, Retention, and Continuing Education) is assessed each year using effectiveness measures. The results of these assessments are published as Effectiveness Updates.

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability provides training to faculty for creating assessment plans that meet the criteria defined in the ACC Effectiveness Assessment Process.

Department Chairs are responsible for timely documentation of the assessment plans for their disciplines into the Unit-Level Effectiveness Assessment Documentation (ULEAD) database.

Instructional Program Review

Instructional Program Review is a comprehensive process that requires programs to evaluate their performance based on criteria outlined in board policy and to make recommendations to improve the quality of the program. Each year, approximately 20 programs are scheduled to conduct a Program Review. Deans and Department Chairs are responsible for ensuring the timely completion of the program review.

For more information, visit http://www.austincc.edu/progrevw/.
Read the full board policy at http://www.austincc.edu/board/policies/E5.htm.

Research Review Committee

All requests to use Austin Community College students, faculty, staff, and/or data for research purposes must follow the research review process and be approved by the ACC Research Review Committee.  The procedures and required forms for the research review process are available at http://www.austincc.edu/oiepub/initiatives/research/ .  The Research Review Committee meets on a monthly basis to review, evaluate, and approve/disapprove research requests.

For more information, visit the Research Review web page at http://www.austincc.edu/oiepub/initiatives/research/
Related Administrative Rule: 3.06.001 Research Proposals Made by Individuals.

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability (OIEA)

The purpose of The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability (OIEA) is to support institutional effectiveness and accountability by conducting institutional research and analysis to provide information for the college-wide decision support system. OIEA promotes and coordinates college-wide planning; assessment; continuous quality improvement; reporting to state, federal, and accrediting agencies; and the use of accurate and accessible information in a professional and ethical manner.

The OIEA conducts surveys, provides data for instructional program review, publishes ACC’s Fact Book, and provides other reports and services, including assistance with planning and assessment activities.  For a list of all publications and information see http://www.austincc.edu/oiepub/pubs/subject.html

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