Academic Annual Report

Academic Quality
Continuous Improvement
DeVry University participates in the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) of The Higher Learning
Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Based on Malcolm Baldrige
National Quality Award program principles, AQIP offers a community of select schools the opportunity to
maintain accreditation by demonstrating a commitment to continuous quality improvement. AQIP schools
are required to define their continuous-improvement principles and processes, implement a comprehensive
approach to continuous improvement, and create a culture of continuous improvement in their organizations.
The HLC reviews the annual action projects that DeVry University undertakes in order to make measurable
quality improvements. Our results are evaluated every four years, and every seven years the HLC reviews
DeVry University for reaccreditation.
AQIP schools are required to define their continuousimprovement
principles and processes, implement a
comprehensive approach to continuous improvement,
and create a culture of continuous improvement in
their organizations.
Current AQIP Action Projects
DeVry University’s 2012–2013 AQIP action projects are:
Project Action: This project is the culmination of three previous AQIP action projects known as “Project
Snapshot.” In Project Snapshot Phase I (2009), we collected, analyzed and reported on all learning-assessment
program activities at DeVry University. In Phase II (2010), we used the data to create an assessment plan that
includes learning objectives and measurements for every course. In Phase III (2011), we piloted additional testing
that measured critical-thinking skills, general education proficiency and the degree to which students mastered
the content of their major courses.
Project Action’s goal is to move beyond the pilot phase of measuring learning outcomes for some of our programs,
and into full implementation of programmatic outcomes assessment. With a baseline established by the pilots we
have run to date, we can further strengthen our programs and compare the performance of our students to that of
students at similar institutions.
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