Assessment at SSU

Shawnee State’s University-Wide Assessment Plan (PDF) describes the assessment process and timelines for SSU’s academic programs, the General Education Program (GEP), and co-curricular programs. Below are brief descriptions of SSU’s assessment processes.

Academic Program Assessment

All academic programs maintain a current assessment plan with the Office of Assessment and Accreditation. Programs with external accreditation can use their accrediting bodies’ assessment requirements in lieu of a formal assessment plan. By the end of each summer, programs submit annual assessment reports and/or annual accreditor reports and describe how faculty have used assessment data. The Assessment Fellows provide feedback on the reports and connect faculty with resources to assist their assessment efforts. 

Faculty are not required to submit assessment reports for years in which they undergo program review or an accreditation self-study. In the review/self-study year, faculty receive feedback on their current assessment plan from the Faculty Assessment and Accreditation Committee. The Director of Assessment and Accreditation will invite faculty to revise their assessment plan which will remain in effect through the next program review period. 

The Academic Program Assessment portion of the University-Wide Assessment plan undergoes review every 5 years with the next review schedule to take place in Academic Year 2025-26. The Director of Assessment and Accreditation will engage the following groups in the review process: the Faculty Assessment and Accreditation Committee (FAAC), the Educational Policies and Curriculum Committee (EPCC), and the University Faculty Senate (UFS).

General Education Program Assessment

The GEP assessment process is described in its assessment plan (PDF). Each year a cluster of the GEP undergoes an assessment review. Faculty teaching in the cluster categories review and revise the learning outcomes, develop a plan for assessing the outcomes, and then implement that plan. Assessment data are shared with and used by faculty and the General Education Advisory Council. 

Below is the current assessment review schedule for the GEP:

The GEP portion of the University-Wide Assessment plan undergoes review every 5 years with the next review scheduled to take place in Academic Year 2026-27. The Director of Assessment and Accreditation will engage the following groups in the review process: FAAC, the General Education Advisory Council (GEAC), EPCC, and UFS.

Co-Curricular Assessment

Shawnee State University assesses student learning in co-curricular programs that align with the GEP learning outcomes. As clusters of the GEP undergo assessment review, co-curricular programs supporting those outcomes also develop and implement their assessment plans and submit annual assessment reports.

Below is the current list of co-curricular programs possessing alignment with the GEP:

The Co-Curricular assessment portion of the University-Wide Assessment plan undergoes review every 5 years with the next review scheduled to take place in Academic Year 2027-28. The Director of Assessment and Accreditation will engage the following groups in the review process: FAAC, GEAC, EPCC, UFS, and the Student Affairs Committee.