Assessment & Accreditation
University Assessment & Accreditation fosters campus assessment efforts by providing support and resources to the UND community.
Understanding Assessment
Assessment is a process by which information from multiple sources is gathered and critically examined to better understand what our students are learning in relation to stated learning goals. The assessment learning cycle explains the process of continuous improvement. Program and learning outcomes are developed, opportunities are provided to assess those outcomes, data are collected to determine if the outcomes are being met, and finally actions are taken to improve the program. The assessment learning cycle is ongoing and continuously changing to ensure the highest levels of quality in academics, student support, and Institutional development.
Learn more about assessment by visiting the Assessment Resources website.
Assessment & Accreditation Support
University Assessment Plan
The University Assessment Plan provides a framework of institutional assessment that ensures a quality educational experience and compliance with the Higher Learning Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation. The University Assessment Plan is reviewed annually by the University Assessment Committee and then approved by the University Senate.
Program/Department Assessment Plans
Assessment plans are in-depth descriptions that outline program or (non-academic) department’s mission, outcomes, how outcomes are measured, targets for success, and a calendar of when outcomes are to be assessed. A plan is required for both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Program assessment plan reviews are are on-going, but revised every 5-7 years.
Annual Assessment Reports
Annual Assessment Reports are due each year and contain the department/program’s mission, assessment contact, outcomes scheduled to be assessed in that year, targets, action plans if targets are not met, data, findings, activities that support “closing the loop” and program improvement, and supporting documentation of assessment (examples of survey items, test questions, or other assignments).
Separate annual reports are due for each degree granting program for both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Annual assessment reports are due by October 15.
Annual assessment Report Resources
Academic Program Review
Academic Program Review (APR) at the University of North Dakota (UND) provides an opportunity for all academic programs to document, examine, and assess the achievement of their goals and objectives over time and is founded on principles of continuous evaluation and improvement and institutional quality.
APR also facilitates UND’s demonstration of accomplishment that aligns with North Dakota University System and North Dakota Board of Higher Education goals, as well as those of the Higher Learning Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation.
The results of the APR process inform planning; budget, time, space, and other resource allocation decisions; curriculum change; professional development; and more. For programs that undergo professional or other specialized types of accreditation, APR fundamentally accompanies those accreditation efforts.
Academic program reviews are due every five years. Contact Dr. Karyn Plumm, Vice Provost for Student Success.
Annual Assessment Award
The UND Excellence in Assessment Award is presented to a UND employee who has gone above and beyond in their prescribed assessment duties. The recipient of this award is selected by the Office of Assessment & Accreditation and is approved by the Vice Provost for Student Success and the Provost. The recipient has excelled in assessment completion, quality of assessment, how assessment is used to make improvements, how others are encouraged about the importance of assessment, assist others in their assessment, volunteer with assessment and/or accreditation opportunities on campus, and have positive interactions with the assessment office and the assessment committee.
Award Winners
- 2019 - 2020 Dr. Brooke Solberg, Medical Laboratory Science
- 2020 - 2021 Dr. Deborah Worley, Education
- 2021 - 2022 Dr. Amber Johnson, Nurse Anesthesia