- Academic Programs & Support
- Office of the Provost
- Office of Assessment
Institutional Assessment
The Office of Institutional Assessment (OIA) supports Western Carolina University’s dedication to academic and operational excellence by promoting evidence-based ‘best practices’ in the assessment of student learning, educational programs, and academic support units.
Our office strives to facilitate a culture of participatory assessment on campus through 1) maintaining clear and consistent communication with faculty, staff, and administrative stakeholders, 2) helping programs contextualize and interpret data, and 3) providing timely and detailed continuous improvement feedback.
Our academic programs and support units, through the continuous improvement and program review processes, collect, analyze, and use data to drive improvements in educational experiences and operational effectiveness. You can find resources related to each of these processes at the links below.
Academic Program Assessment
Our academic programs engage in ongoing student learning outcomes assessment. All programs are responsible for identifying specific learning outcomes, measuring progress, and implementing improvements based on results. Academic program assessment is a faculty-driven process designed to measure student knowledge, skills, and achievements.
Support Services Assessment
Support service units facilitate operational effectiveness by assessing outcomes related to the functioning of their unit. Units collect, analyze, and use data to drive improvements. These practices should inform the unit's practices and promote the impact of services.
Program/Unit Review
Program/unit review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the operational and strategic direction for our academic programs, as well as administrative and support service units. At WCU, academic programs are reviewed every 6-7 years, while administrative and support services units are reviewed on a five-year cycle.
Contact Our Staff
Dr. Karen Price
Director of Assessment
Dr. Jen Schiff
Professor of Political Science and Public Affairs & Director of Liberal Studies Assessment
Tierney Cody, '14
Assessment Coordinator
Logan King, '24
Administrative Support Specialist
Related Links
2023-24 CIR Deadline
Monday, October 7, 2024 by 5 P.M.