Academic Standing Committees

University Assessment Committee

In accordance with the Christopher Newport University Handbook, Section XVII, the University Assessment Committee (UAC) is tasked with the following responsibilities:

1. Monitoring the overall operation of the university's assessment activities
2. Making recommendations concerning changes to the university's assessment activities

The UAC consists of the Associate Director of Assessment and Accreditation, one representative of the student affairs staff who is appointed by the chief of staff; four administrative representatives who are appointed by the vice provost for research, graduate studies and assessment; and eight faculty members (four who are appointed by the provost, and four who are appointed by the Faculty Senate). Of the eight faculty members, two are representatives from Arts and Humanities, two are from Natural and Behavioral Sciences, two are from Social Sciences and/or Luter School of Business, and two are at-large representatives.

The UAC reports administratively to the associate provost for Assessment and Accreditation, and it reports to the Faculty Senate regarding policies and procedures (and other issues, as appropriate).

UAC Review Process

• Assessment reports are received from academic and administrative and student support service units each year.
  • 1/3 of all academic programs are scheduled to submit triennial assessment reports through Taskstream by December 15.
  • 1/2 of all administrative and student support service units are scheduled to submit triennial assessment reports through Taskstream by May 15.
• Following initial reviews, the Office of Assessment and Accreditation forwards the submitted triennial reports to the UAC to be reviewed.
  • Triennial assessment reports are reviewed in the spring.
  • Biennial assessment reports are reviewed in the fall.
• A UAC review packet will be generated for each submitted report.
  • Each triennial report will be evaluated by two UAC members using a rubric developed by the UAC.
  • Following rubric reviews, the information provided by each rubric will be summarized in a single narrative.
  • The two rubrics and the narrative summary comprise the UAC review packet.
  • These packets will be distributed to the department’s assessment liaison and their immediate supervisor.

Responses to the UAC Reviews

• Each rubric review results in a composite rubric score.
  • The two rubric scores are averaged together to determine the response required by the reporting departments.
• For scores between 60 – 100, no further action on this cycle’s report is required.
  •  All departments will be encouraged to incorporate UAC suggestions into their assessment plan.
  • These changes should be entered into the assessment plan in the following cycle.
• For scores between 0 – 59, departments will be asked to submit the revisions requested by the UAC.
  • Revisions should be made within the same submitted report.
  • For academic programs, revisions should be completed by September 1.
  • For administrative and student support service units, revisions should be completed by May 1.

Questions concerning the UAC’s review process can be directed to the Office of Assessment and Accreditation (assess@cnu.edu, 4-8420 ).