4. The institution identifies expected outcomes, assesses the extent ...

SACS/COC Fifth-Year Interim Report, Part III.
students, view assessment results or findings, and effect improvements in student learning through
specific actions. Faculty received support in creating, implementing, and monitoring assessment plans
through workshops, instructional materials, and the WEAVE database. WEAVE provided a structured
framework and static repository for assessment plans and assessment results for both student learning
outcomes and administrative unit effectiveness.
In March 2003, VCU implemented the assessment management software WEAVEonline TM , a centralized,
dynamic web-based tool. In August 2003, 100% of VCU’s then 218 academic programs (degrees plus
some concentrations) had mission statements, outcomes/objectives, and measures for student learning.
Further, 99% of the academic programs had entered findings and 86% had documented action plans to
improve student learning outcomes. The 86% of programs showing action plans was higher than
expected because action plans were required only when targets were unmet or partially met; programs
opted to document action plans even for achieved targets. During this time, VCU began to license the
software solution. In May 2006, Centrieva Corporation acquired WEAVEonline. While VCU continued its
use of the WEAVEonline product for ongoing assessment of academic and administrative performance,
VCU also suffered the loss of key staff in this spin-off.
The Interim Associate Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs and then Vice Provost for Academic
and Faculty Affairs fulfilled the mandatory assessment responsibilities until a permanent director was
appointed in 2007. Several institutional effectiveness personnel assisted with the assessment
responsibilities with a focus on the mandatory SCHEV (State Council of Higher Education for Virginia)
reporting requirements regarding core competency assessment. Departmental/unit student learning
outcomes assessments were addressed, but not optimally. Individual units were requested to report on
student learning outcomes assessment as part of the annual report. After a national search, a Director
of Assessment joined VCU in the Summer 2007, and in Fall 2007 a VCU web specialist joined the team.
The new Director of Assessment, Dr. R. Stephen RiCharde, made several enhancements to the
assessment process to ensure that VCU complied with federal, regional, and state requirements and to
enhance the culture of assessment:
The Assessment Council became a standing committee that met monthly during the academic
year;
Individual consultations for improving student learning assessment plans occurred on both the
Monroe Park and the MCV campuses;
Periodic WEAVEonline how-to workshops were conducted on both campuses;
An audit strategy, including key audit elements and an audit timeline, was developed for the
systematic review of student learning assessment plans;
All student learning assessment plans for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 academic years were
audited by the Director;
Assessment plan audit feedback was provided to the Assessment Council and all academic
programs.
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