Institutional Effectiveness

   Institutional effectiveness is an important concept in higher education with a simple, but vital, purpose - to ensure the integrity of the teaching and learning process. To receive and maintain accreditation by one of our nation's regional accrediting boards. a college or university must demonstrate how it answers the question: Do the achieved results of your higher education institution fulfill its stated institutional mission and goals? 

    For UVa-Wise, the accrediting body is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).  SACS requires that UVa-Wise meet the following comprehensive standard:

The institution identifies expected outcomes for its educational programs and its administrative and educational support services; assesses whether it achieves these outcomes; and provides evidence of improvement based on analysis of those results.

    During the College’s annual planning and assessment process, each unit and department of the institution develops objectives, measures, and achievement target levels.  The annual assessment of performance, both in the academic programs (general education and the disciplines) and in operational services, provides direction for improvement.   Objectives are linked to the College's strategic initiatives as delineated in Creating the Future 2012, and the strategic initiatives are linked to UVa-Wise's mission and goals.

    To track this planning, assessment, and improvement, beginning with the FY2007 cycle, UVa-Wise implemented WEAVE, a software developed by Virginia Commonwealth University and used by many higher education institutions throughout the nation, including the University of Virginia.  Annual reports posted in WEAVE are used to develop the Year in Review report.

     To see a schematic of UVa-Wise's institutional effectiveness process, click here (pdf).

     To view historical planning and assessment documents, click here.