Assessment Committee Bylaws

1. Purpose

   Supports the Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Planning to ensure that the University fully develops and implements an ongoing, systematic program for the assessment of student learning outcomes, which includes but is not limited to setting educational and student development goals; gathering and interpreting information and evidence to demonstrate whether students are reaching such goals; and using such evidence for improvement of student learning.

2. Objectives, Responsibilities, and Powers

   1. To advise and make recommendations to the University Senate and Provost/ Vice President for Academic Affairs on assessment matters and assessment quality;
   2. To collaborate with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Planning to coordinate assessment efforts of all student involved experiences across the university
      1. This committee will provide guidance and recommendations on the development of objectives and assessment methods
   3. To establish Institutional Outcomes with appropriate assessment with input from the University Senate;
   4. To facilitate assessment programs on an institutional, school, and program level;
   5. To coordinate the maintenance of records of current assessment activities at the University in an accessible electronic format;
   6. To promote ongoing assessment of Student Learning Outcomes information;
   7. To coordinate assessment events for sharing of assessment strategies and results;
   8. To coordinate with the NECHE Compliance Officer each February to assure the assessment processes at the university meet the needs of NECHE accreditation.

3. Membership (13)

   Member	Appointed/Elected
   Associate VP Institutional Effectiveness & Planning (1)	Appointed
   Provost designee (1)	Appointed
   Dean of Student Affairs (1)	Appointed
   Director of Institutional Research and Assessment (1)	Ex-Officio
   Representative of General Education Committee (1)	Appointed by the chair of the General Education Committee
   Teaching Faculty (1 from each school) and 1 Librarian/Counselor/Coach (5)	Elected by teaching faculty overlapping for 3-year terms
   Administrative Faculty (1)	Appointed for 3-year term (SUOAF)
   Students with overlapping 2-year terms (2)	Appointed by SGA

    

4. Conduct of Business

   1. The first meeting of each academic year shall be convened by one of or both cochairs.
   2. A quorum will consist of no less than one-half (1/2) of the voting members. Unfilled positions, if any, shall not be counted in determining quorum.
   3. Regular meetings will be held once a month during the fall and spring semesters. As determined by collective agreement by committee members. Attendance and voting may be electronic.
   4. Meetings can be held virtually, or in-person as agreed upon by committee members.
   5. Special meetings may be called by one or both co-chairs.
   6. The call to meetings, accompanied by the agenda, shall be published not less than three days prior to the meeting.
   7. Decisions of the Committee shall be made by majority vote of the members present.
   8. All members of the committee will have the right to vote.
   9. Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order, Revised.

5. Officers

   1. The committee will be co-chaired.
      1. The faculty co-chair will be chosen by the committee members at the last meeting of the academic year. This Co-Chair should be one of the six faculty on the committee. The Chairperson for the following year shall be elected at the last meeting of the academic year from and by the voting members of the following year. In the absence of a Chairperson, the President of the University Senate shall designate a member to convene a meeting, of the Committee, for the purpose of electing a Chairperson
      2. The administrative co-chair will be the Associate VP of Institutional Effectiveness & Planning
   2. The position of Secretary shall be filled by each member, excluding the Cochairs, on an alphabetical rotating basis, unless otherwise agreed to by the committee.
   3. The Director of Institutional Research will be responsible for maintaining a digital archive of all university assessment plans and reports.
   4. Newley elected or appointed members should be invited to the last meeting of the academic year.