Name of Organization

Advisory Committee for Academic Assessment

Purpose of the Division of Academic Assessment

The division of Academic Assessment in the Center for Teaching and Learning has major responsibility for assisting the College's academic assessment process and for coordinating, planning, and implementing strategies for assessment of major fields of study, general education, and academic programs (program review).

Purposes of Committee

The purposes of the Advisory Committee for Academic Assessment are to serve the College as the primary advisory body to the Academic Assessment division of the Center for Teaching and Learning. Members serve as liaison for assessment ideas and issues to their constituencies while fulfilling their committee responsibilities as college citizens. Members may also provide leadership, if requested, to executive committees and academic units as they help foster the implementation of a comprehensive academic assessment plan for the College.

Membership

In recommending and appointing members to this committee, attention shall be given to representation that includes faculty, students, and administrators from the following units, with recognition of the primacy of faculty, who are among those most directly and extensively involved in the academic achievement of students. At least half of the committee members shall be faculty. The Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning will prepare a slate of nominees, in coordination with the Provosts, for appointment by the Vice-President of Academic and Student Affairs from the following faculty bodies:

• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Business Administration
• Joint Enrollment
• Teacher Education
• Science
• Fine Arts
• Math
• Nursing
• Distance Learning
• Honors Program
• Fire Management
• Dental Hygiene
• INTP
• Learning Support
• Physical Education

(It is recommended that that the Chairs of the Executive Committees, or a designated representative, serve in the capacity for each of the key discipline groups.)

To recognize the direct support to students educational development, one (1) representative from Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, will be appointed upon the recommendation of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.

To recognize the importance of assessment and planning, one (1) representative from IRP will be appointed upon the recommendation of the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administrative Affairs.

To recognize the importance of linkage to campus leadership at least one (1) Provost and one (1) Academic Dean shall be appointed to serve on the committee.

To recognize the importance of who we serve, at least two (2) students will serve on the committee annually.

Leadership

The Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning will chair the committee. A co-chair, elected from the members, will serve a one-year term that is renewable.

The chair and co-chair are responsible for scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, minutes of all meetings, and other responsibilities requested by the committee. Agendas will be sent to members in advance of a meeting and minutes will be published in a timely fashion. Agendas and minutes will be published on a web-site so they are available to the campus community as well as the members of the committee. They may also be communicated by electronic mail.

Subcommittees

Ad hoc subcommittees deemed useful to the work of the committee may be formed. Each subcommittee will recommend a chair, whose appointment will be confirmed in writing by the chair or co-chair of the committee. The chair of each subcommittee will set meeting dates, prepare agendas and minutes, which will be published on the committee Website.

Decision Making

Committee recommendations are decided by a simple majority vote of the membership.

The co-chairs shall give appropriate consideration to majority, plurality, and minority aspects of issues recommended by the committee. The committee should work toward incorporation of all points of view whenever possible to ensure a sense of voice and community for all constituencies.

All members of the committee shall have voting rights. In the event that a member of the committee is unable to attend a meeting of the committee, he or she may designate an alternate from the same constituency by notifying one of the co-chairs prior to the meeting. The alternate shall have all the rights and privileges of the regular members for the designated meeting.

Meetings

The committee will meet at least twice each semester, but often enough to fulfill the responsibilities of the committee. Meetings can be scheduled at the call of the chair and co-chair, or upon the request of four committee members.

Member Terms

Members are appointed for three years and consecutive appointments are permitted. In the initial years of the committee, appointments should be staggered to provide for continuity. A random process shall be used to determine one, two, and three-year terms.

Changes in Operating Procedures

These operating procedures may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the entire committee membership.