Student Learning Outcomes
Assessment & Accreditation

Administrative Departmental Review for Business Services

Business Services includes the following departments:
 

Purpose of Administrative Departmental Review

 The purpose of systematic review and assessment is to make the department more responsive to the needs of the college and community, increasing its contribution to student mastery of the four college-wide competencies, and to provide information for decisions regarding resource allocation.  It is an analytical critique of a department that defines its current and future needs to meet the demands placed on it in an effective, efficient, timely and cost-effective manner.

Outcomes

The review will provide a method for evaluating the department.  It will determine if the department is meeting the needs of the college and community and what role it plays in helping students to master the four college-wide competencies.  Though most departments do not contribute directly to helping students learn, the services provided enable students and faculty to engage in teaching and learning, so the department’s contribution is crucial. It will address the most effective use of college resources to insure quality and excellence.

 Information from the review will be used by the college to establish responsible budgets and appropriate manpower levels.  Unmet needs identified by the process will be prioritized and a written summary submitted to the College Planning Council (CPC).

 The information will be used by the department to develop policies, procedures and training materials, and to quantify responsibility and accountability goals.  The major initiatives from this process will be presented to the CPC and included in the College Master Plan.

Process

This is a self-study, to be conducted by the members of the department.  Others from outside the department can assist as needed.

The self-study process should ask tough questions about the need for the department, how it contributes to college-wide student learning outcomes, its effectiveness, its costs and the changes that need to be made.  Data should be primarily objective rather than subjective to improve both utility and credibility.  Trends should be analyzed, collecting and displaying data over time.  Comparable data for similar departments should be presented to give a comparative context for performance and cost.

On a six-year rotation each department will conduct a self-study, review the data, discuss the findings and document the process and findings in a written report (see the Business Services flowchart for details of the schedule of the cycle).  This process will begin in July with a meeting of the department and the Planning Resource Committee (PRC).  At this meeting the assessment process will be reviewed and a review team chosen.

Before analysis begins a draft of the research plan will be submitted to the PRC.  The draft, in bullet form, will outline the proposed data to be used, the issues to be covered and the planned format.  The draft is due September 1.  The PRC will review this plan and provide feedback to the review team.  The final written report is due to the PRC March 31.

A summary of the written report will be submitted to the College Planning Council.  It will include a prioritized list of unmet needs, supported by facts.  Members of the department are invited to attend this meeting.  The College Planning Council will forward this to the College Board.

At the mid-point of the six-year cycle the department will complete an interim report.  The PRC may then recommend a full review sooner than six years if warranted by changes in technology, internal and external trends, etc.

Minimum Requirements

Data collection and analysis should address the following issues as a minimum:

 1.      Describe the service the department provides and its relationship to others in the college and the community.

How does the department’s mission and goals support the mission of the college?

How does the department contribute to student mastery of the four college-wide competencies?

Include a prioritized statement of goals from the department plan.

Are the goals measurable?  Are they being met?

Explain the department’s vision for the future.

 2.      What factors are used to determine the quality and success of the department?

How do you measure the effectiveness and efficiency of what you do?

Evaluate relevant benchmarks.  Compare your performance and costs to departments at similar colleges.

How are operations currently performed?  Compare this to the needs and demands of the college in relation to this department.

How well does your department serve its customers?  What criteria are used to determine this?

 3.      Analyze trends affecting the department.

What will be the impact of external factors on the department?

• Five year enrollment trend

• Trends in technology

• Changes in student demographics

• Changes in the community and political environment

• Competition

• Other external trends

What will be the impact of internal changes on the department:

• Building plans

• Nontraditional hours and methods of instruction

• Anticipated future revenue

• Future workload changes

• Other internal trends

4.      What changes need to be made?

Discuss resource requirements and the effects of proposed and anticipated changes on supplies, equipment, facilities and staffing.

Are department skills and technology current?  What are the plans to accommodate future trends?

Analyze staff development plans and needs.

Conclusion

The self-study document should include a six-year plan created by the department based on this analysis and review.  This should be an action plan that uses terms that provide for measurable goals.  The document should also include recommendations that are specific and supported by facts and documentation.  These recommendations will be used by the College Planning Council in the budget development process.  The document will provide the department with a basis for ongoing planning and assessment.

Schedule

Administrative Departmental Review for Business Services