The Office of Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness, a department of the Office of the Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, promotes rigorous evaluation in the pursuit of institutional excellence.  The office supports, coordinates, and advances efforts to demonstrate that the University is fulfilling its academic mission and enhancing learning excellence within the community of learners.

MISSION

The Office of Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness will advance learning excellence through information, evaluation, and recommendations while striving for improvement through communication and collaboration.

PHILOSOPHY

Assessment assists in achieving excellence by asking:  Who are we?  Are we who we say we are?  How do we know?  How can we improve?  Are the improvements working?  Assessment activities increase the dialog about excellence throughout the campus community.

Assessment is the systematic and ongoing process of collecting, analyzing and acting on data and information and is an essential component in achieving the university's mission and supporting goals and outcomes.  Assessment is oriented towards measuring results and using these results to aid in decision-making enhancement.  Assessment is not an isolated event, but rather a communication loop affording continuous quality improvement of programs, departments, and courses.

The goal of institutional effectiveness is to integrate planning, evaluation, and budgeting processes into a comprehensive program that not only encompasses teaching and learning but also the array of administrative and support services which sustain the core of activities of the University.

DIRECTOR

Dr. Garlough spent several years as an administrator on a USAID/University of Oklahoma grant to assess, support, and revitalize the institutions of higher education and scientific research in Iraq.  Her experience includes both faculty and administrative accomplishments.  She has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) and has served on numerous committees.  Dr. Garlough earned her doctorate in Adult ad Higher Education Administration from the University of Oklahoma.