University Assessment Committee (UAC)
Draft Bylaws v2
Reporting
Responsibility
Type of Committee
The Provost
Standing Committee of the Provost
Article I
Definitions
Article II
Charge and Goals
1.
The University Assessment Committee is used interchangeably with “the Committee”
and “the UAC.”
2. “Primary Academic and Non-Academic Units” refers to the following units: The College
of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, The School of Education, The College of
Science and Engineering, The Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, The
Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing, The E.S Farley Library, Finance and Support
Operations, Marketing and Enrollment Services, Development and Alumni Relations,
Student Affairs, and Human Resources and Organization Development
3. “Secondary Academic and Non-Academic Units” refers to those units that are
subsidiary to the primary units; for example, the Department of Communication would
be a secondary unit to The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Charge
The University Assessment Committee (UAC) is charged with strengthening the University
assessment and program review process to ensure cogent and disciplined evaluation of our
effectiveness as an institution. The umbrella goal of the UAC is to create an environment
of empirically-based continuous improvement. The UAC and its subcommittees are chaired
by the Associate Provost or other designee. The committee collaborates with university
leaders and committees to fulfill its charge and goals.
Goals
1. Align the outcome-based assessment processes at the University with the strategic
plan
2. Establish and reinforce assessment processes which include: designing and updating
assessment templates, planning assessment training, and establishing and maintaining
an assessment webpage
3. Create and maintain an archive of assessment reports and reviews
4. Evaluate and recommend assessment instruments and software systems
5. Review assessment and program review documentation to ensure that they meet
requirements of external accreditation bodies and serve university goals for
institutional effectiveness
6. Ensure that assessment results are analyzed and used for continuous improvement in a
fair, ethical, and responsible manner
7. Verify that timetables for assessment cycles are maintained and met
8. Ensure that the status and progress of university assessment efforts are widely and
effectively communicated
9. Serve as an internal consulting entity in the areas of academic and non-academic
assessment
10. Develop and utilize a group of departmental assessment coordinators
University Assessment Committee (UAC) Membership
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11. Align assessment processes with faculty and staff performance management systems
Article III
Composition
The Committee is comprised of a Chair and at least one representative from each of the
primary academic and non-academic units. The Provost accepts all nominations for the
UAC. The Provost may appoint any ex officio members to the Committee.
The Chair of the Committee and its subcommittees are selected by the Provost and serve
two-year terms. The Committee will designate a member to serve as Secretary, who will
be responsible for recording and disseminating the minutes of the meetings of the UAC.
Article IV
Relationships
Members are nominated based on their ability to serve the Committee. It is desirable, but
not required, that members possess technical knowledge of assessment. Members are
selected in accordance with procedures defined by the Wilkes University Faculty
Handbook. A quorum consists of a majority of the members, one of which must include
the Chair of the Committee.
The Committee has the following relationships:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Article V
Responsibilities and
Duties
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The Provost: The Committee reports to the Provost. The Chair of the Committee has
access to the President’s Cabinet and Academic Council via the Provost to relay issues
that need immediate attention or resolution.
The Core Review Committee (CRC): The CRC may nominate a CRC member to attend
UAC meetings ex officio.
The Curriculum Committee (CC): The CC may nominate a CRC member to attend UAC
meetings ex officio.
The First Year Foundations (FYF): The FYF committee may nominate a CRC member to
attend UAC meetings ex officio.
The Teacher Recognition and Effectiveness Committee (TREC): The CRC may nominate
a CRC member to attend UAC meetings ex officio.
The Committee will make resolutions to the Provost in regards to policies and
procedures relevant to assessment and institutional effectiveness.
Ensure that UAC policies and procedures are updated as needed and consistent with
the Provost’s view.
The Committee will ensure that the UAC website is up-to-date and contain an archive
of assessment related documentation across the institution.
The Committee will review the university Strategic Plan to ensure that tactics relevant
to the work of the committee are being fulfilled through assessment activities.
The Committee will prepare yearly status reports and minutes of meetings or
conference calls for review.
The Committee will coordinate and monitor the program review process.
The Committee will respond to individual and group inquires across campus.
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Article VI
Decision-Making
Article VII
Structure
The UAC will make resolutions to the Provost in the areas of assessment and institutional
effectiveness. The Committee makes no other independent decisions. All of the UAC’s
resolutions will be determined by quorum. The UAC is empowered to respond to specific
inquires and issues related to assessment and institutional effectiveness. The UAC will
follow the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
The Committee will upon passage of the bylaws form three subcommittees.
Academic Assessment Services Sub- Committee
The Academic Services Sub-Committee will be composed of designees from the primary
academic units: The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, The School of
Education, The College of Science and Engineering, The Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and
Leadership, The Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing, and The E.S Farley Library
Non-Academic Assessment Services Sub-Committee
The Non-Academic Services Sub-Committee will be composed of designees from the
primary non-academic units: Finance and Support Operations, Marketing and Enrollment
Services, Development and Alumni Relations, Student Affairs, and Human Resources and
Organization Development
Article VIII
Amendments to Bylaws
Article XI
Meetings/Schedules
Article X
Fiscal
Management/Budget
Assessment Coordinators Sub-Committee
The Assessment Coordinators will be nominated and accepted by the members of the UAC.
They will serve two-year terms. The Assessment Coordinators will be secondary unit
representatives. UAC members may fill the role of Assessment Coordinator for their unit.
The Assessment Coordinators will rarely meet as a group; they serve as a point of contact
for the program review process. It is strongly recommended that Assessment Coordinators
from Academic Services hold faculty rank.
These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted by a
three-fourths vote of the members. Any changes to the bylaws are submitted to the
Provost for approval. If the Provost does not approve of a change to the bylaws, the bylaws
will be unchanged.
The Committee will meet monthly with at least one subcommittee meeting in the interim.
Meetings are called by the Chair of the Bylaws Committee.
There is no formal budget for the Committee.
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