With the granting of initial accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association in April, 2002, Arkansas State University-Newport (ASUN) began developing an assessment plan that was individualized to reflect ASUN's mission statement, goals, facilities, and student body. The annual cycle of assessment provides a framework that allows assessment of academic programs, student service programs, and non-academic areas through establishing measurable objectives that coordinate with our mission statement, strategic goals, and accountability matrix. We use assessment processes to document our plan, which in turn allows us to take action based on the results. This process allows for continual monitoring of institutional effectiveness by providing a direct link to institutional planning.
Our assessment plan centers upon two main categories: (1) student learning and (2) institutional effectiveness. Our plan is broken down into five distinct areas: (1) Academic Programs, (2) Academic Support Services, (3) Student Support Services, (4) Institutional Support Services, and (5) Community Support Services. Each of these areas intertwines with and complies with our mission statement, strategic goals and accountability matrix. As changes occur in the campus, the student body, or the course offerings, the priorities-quality teaching and attention to the individual student as a learner-- will remain the same.
