Eastern Michigan University
Student Success Assessment Plan Guidelines
Format for Assessment Plans and Reports
Use the following format to develop your strategic assessment plan. This template will be
used to aggregate and share your end of year assessment report to the University
Assessment Coordinate Committee. Each department/unit should review completed
assessments of one or two learning outcomes as well as one or two operation/service
outcomes. Please provide 3-5 departmental long-term goals used to guide annual
outcomes.
Eastern Michigan University
Student Success Assessment Plan 2013-14
Department Assessment Coordinator Information
Date:
Department/Unit Assessment Coordinator
Assessment Coordinator:
Email:
Phone:
Department Director Name:
Email:
Phone:
Mission
Department/Unit Mission
Statement of Mission:
(The mission describes the purpose of the organization and the constituents served. The
mission of the department or unit will support the missions of the Division and University.)
Statement of Vision:
(The vision statement is an aspirational description of what an organization would like to
achieve or accomplish in the near future. It is intended to serve as a clear guide for choosing
current and future courses of action. The vision statement will support the department or
unit’s mission statement.)
Goal: (Program goals are overarching statements that describe what a program or
department are trying to accomplish. Learning/service goals are broad statements
describing what participants are expected to learn; sometimes they describe a state of being.
Key words that typify educational goals are: know, appreciate, understand, etc.)

Outcome (Outcomes are specific statements derived from goals; they help clarify and
define the meaning of the goal. Learning outcomes articulate the measureable
expected results of an instructional activity or program effort. Outcomes are a
demonstration of knowing, thinking, and understanding. Outcomes describe
measureable behaviors achieved using active verbs such as: arrange, define, explain,
calculate, design, synthesize, evaluate, etc. Service/Operational outcomes describe
those elements of a program or activity that can be counted and used to evaluate
effectiveness such as: tracking the number of students served/participated; type of
interaction with students; level of satisfaction; needs; department behaviors/attitudes;
cost effectiveness; program review; etc.)
(Learning/Service)— designate whether it is a service/operation outcome or a
learning outcome
o Assessment Methods (Assessment methods include the criteria, process, and
tools used to determine if the intended outcomes were reached. Assessment
methods articulate the target audience of the assessment, the methods and
tools for data collection, criteria or targets that specify that the outcome has
been met, and how the data will be analyzed. A combination of methods to
measure outcomes is desirable. —
o Implementation (This describes who is responsible, what is being assessed,
how data are collected, and the timeline for assessment activities. Not all
assessments must be conducted annually. A table is often useful for visualizing
the process.)—
o Results (Report results for each outcome based on established criteria)—
o Decisions/Actions/Recommendations (Based on the results, describe any
decisions made or action taken regarding programs, policies, training, and
services as well as improvements/refinements to the assessment process.
Include a plan for assessing the effectiveness of these decision or actions.)—
o Shared With (Include how and with whom the results, decision, etc. were
shared)—
EXAMPLE: Wellness Center
Mission Statement: We provide holistic programs and services that promote individual
wellness to the Eastern Michigan Community
Vision Statement: We will be recognized by the university community for our innovative
approaches to student wellness.
Goal 1: Students will learn how to achieve a healthy balance among competing life
commitments and choices within the eight dimensions of wellness.
Outcome 1.1 (Learning)— Students will become aware of how the environment makes
an impact on their daily life.
o Assessment Methods— Program effectiveness with written evaluation and
Satisfaction Survey
o Implementation—Presented to first year students after CloseUp debrief
sessions
o Results—2000 students surveyed; overall CloseUp performance received high
satisfaction scores, the CloseUp debrief received less satisfactory scores
(locations weren’t always conducive to the exercises)
o Decisions/Actions/Recommendations—adjustments to specific scenes will
be made as well as various aspects of the debrief session
o Shared with—The Wellness Center staff, CloseUp directors troupe member