Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness
The effectiveness component of IRPE involves coordinating the online Institutional Planning and Effectiveness System as well as coordinating University assessment measures including the Graduating Student Survey, the New Student Survey, the Alumni Survey, the Employer Survey, the Major Field Tests in selected disciplines and the ETS Proficiency Profile—a national standardized examination to assess the effectiveness of the general studies program. In addition, IRPE staff members publish reports (online and in hard copy formats) from results of these assessment instruments.
After August 1, 2005, when the three separately accredited institutions—ÎÞÂë¾ÞÈé State University Dothan, ÎÞÂë¾ÞÈé State University Montgomery and ÎÞÂë¾ÞÈé State University—officially merged to become ÎÞÂë¾ÞÈé, transition to a new Institutional Planning and Effectiveness (IP & E) online system began. The new system was developed to meet the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Core Requirements and Comprehensive Standards for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning in The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, .
To meet Institutional Effectiveness requirements in the online system, all programs of the University (Academic and Non-Academic) define their expected outcomes or student learning outcomes with assessment measures, measure the outcomes through assessment data gathered on an ongoing basis, build Plans for Improvement (PFI) for outcomes not met, and report assessment results with improvements made based on assessment annually in the online Institutional Planning and Effectiveness system. Outcomes met are captured in the evidence of improvement file and can be included in annual achievement reports and the Chancellor’s Mid-Year Review.
In addition to University-wide surveying, testing and coordinating of the online IP & E System, IRPE is responsible for the Institutional Effectiveness Committee (IEC) which reviews all existing University Programs over a three-year period (one third per year) and which reviews all revised programs, new programs and substantive change prospectuses to verify that institutional effectiveness requirements are met.