Academic Planning and Improvement Process

Office of Assessment and Accreditation

APIP

What is APIP?

The Academic Planning and Improvement Process (APIP) is a campus-developed framework designed to intentionally and systematically integrate assessment of student learning, academic program review, academic portfolio management, strategic priorities, and resource allocations.

APIP Resources (Log-In Required)

Purpose, Outcomes, Guiding Principles, Alignment

Purpose

The purpose of the Academic Planning and Improvement Process (APIP) is to intentionally, consistently, and systematically assess student learning, review academic programs, implement initiatives to foster continuous improvement, and then, use the results of this work to develop data-informed strategies and resource allocation models.

Outcomes

APIP Outcomes

Academic strategies are aligned with St. Cloud State University’s mission and strategic plan.
Academic units use a consistent framework for planning and improvement that intentionally links assessment, program review, and portfolio management to strategic planning and resource allocation.
Cloud State University’s academic programs are positioned to recognize, anticipate, and respond quickly to both internal and external challenges and opportunities.
Academic programs will identify opportunities to respond to changes in workforce demand, student needs, and/or enrollment fluctuations.
Cloud State University can demonstrate accountability to its stakeholders through purposeful measurement, reporting, and actions.

Guiding Principles

These guiding principles are the foundational elements that constitute and define the Academic Planning and Improvement Process. APIP is:

Comprehensive and fully transparent
Purposeful in ensuring faculty and staff involvement
Intentional in interweaving discipline-specific expertise with data-informed and evidence-based decision making
Supportive of future growth that anticipates or is responsive to student, internal and external needs and demands
Implemented consistently and systematically
Integrated with the University’s planning and resource allocation models and processes

Alignment with Minnesota State

APIP is designed to be in compliance with Minnesota State’s Board Policies and System Procedures. Specifically, APIP is in accordance with policies and procedures found in Chapter 3 – Educational Policies.

Alignment with Higher Learning Commission

St. Cloud State University’s Academic Planning and Program Improvement Process is designed to meet both the Higher Learning Commission’s Assumed Practices, a set of practices shared by institutions of higher education in the United States that are not expected to vary by institutional mission and context, and the Criteria for Accreditation, the quality standards by which HLC merits accreditation.

Elements of the Academic Planning and Improvement Process

Assessment Plan

The Assessment Plan, developed by faculty and/or staff, is a written document that identifies:

Learning outcomes for the program
Learning outcome alignment with Our Husky Compact
Via a curriculum map, where, within the program, the learning outcomes are taught and assessed
Signatures assignments to be used for evaluation of specific learning outcomes
Common rubrics to be used to evaluate student learning on signature assignments
The learning outcome assessment rotation schedule

Assessment of Student Learning – Our Husky Compact

SCSU commits to prepare students for life, work, and citizenship. Our Husky Compact (OHC) embodies the most essential attributes needed for a successful personal, professional, and civic life. At SCSU, our students develop these attributes over time during their academic and co-curricular educational experience. The six guiding dimensions of Our Husky Compact are SCSU’s institutional learning outcomes for all undergraduate and graduate students and thus, the foundation for learning outcomes in our academic programs, liberal education program, and co-curricular programs. Assessment of our students’ proficiency in the six guiding dimensions of OHC is a systematic and iterative process. It involves defining the dimensions, measuring student proficiency in the dimensions, analyzing results, implementing changes to improve student proficiency, and then re-measuring students’ proficiency.

Assessment of Student Learning – Liberal Education Program

St. Cloud State University’s Liberal Education Program (LEP) was created to ensure every undergraduate student at St. Cloud State University has an opportunity to explore ideas, issues, and methods in a broad and diverse spectrum of disciplines resulting in a strong foundation of knowledge, skills and experiences that prepare them to navigate the complex issues in our world, now and in the future. Assessment of student learning in our Liberal Education Program is a systematic and iterative process designed to understand and improve student learning within the liberal education program. It involves defining what students are to know and demonstrate, measuring student learning, analyzing results, implementing changes in the liberal education program to improve student learning, and then re-measuring student learning.

Assessment of Student Learning – Academic Programs

Assessment of student learning in academic programs is a systematic and iterative process designed to understand and improve student learning within an academic degree/certificate program. It involves defining what students are to know and demonstrate, measuring student learning, analyzing results, implementing changes in the academic program to improve student learning, and then re-measuring student learning.

Assessment of Student Learning – Co-curricular Program

Co-curricular programs are those programs that take place outside of the classroom; build, expand, or refine academic learning; and have learning outcomes based on and aligned with Our Husky Compact. Assessment of student learning in co-curricular programs is a systematic and iterative process designed to understand and improve student learning within a co-curricular program. It involves defining what students are to know and demonstrate, measuring student learning, analyzing results, implementing changes in the co-curricular program to improve student learning, and then re-measuring student learning.

Academic Program Review

Academic Program Review is a systematic means to evaluate the health and vitality of academic degree and certificate programs within our academic program portfolio. The Academic Program Review is founded on a comprehensive self-study led by program faculty. It includes thorough analysis and discussion as well as completion of a program matrix which guides the development of strategic initiatives for continuous improvement.

Program Accreditation/External Review Program accreditation is validation that a specific degree program, family of related professions, or other entity meets standards of quality and effectiveness set forth by the accreditation-granting organization. Some degree programs have multiple accrediting bodies while other degree programs may not have an accrediting body. Data and analyses conducted for St. Cloud State University’s Academic Program Review are often incorporated into a program accreditation process.

The purpose of an external review is to have outside experts conduct an objective and critical evaluation of a program and propose recommendations that are intended to enhance program quality and effectiveness. External reviews are often used for programs that do not have discipline or professional accrediting bodies.

Academic Program Portfolio Review

An Academic Program Portfolio Review is a data-informed and evidence-based process that systematically plots the intersections of programs’ strengths with market needs/demands. The program portfolio matrix, a tool used in the review, illustrates the portfolio’s program composition and assists academic and university leadership in its development of strategic priorities and resource investments.

Strategic Plan

An academic strategic plan is a blueprint for an academic unit’s future that is aligned with St. Cloud State University’s shared values, mission, and strategies. It is developed using both internal and external data and evidence, primarily found in assessment, academic program review, and accreditation/external review reports. Academic strategic plans typically include the following:

University vision, mission, values, and strategic priorities
Academic unit profile
Academic unit vision, mission, values
Environment Summary (SWOT)
4-6 Academic unit strategic priorities (aligned with university’s strategic priorities)
Priority implementation plans that include the initiative, timeline, responsible persons, and measurements of success

Contact Us

Questions? Our team is here to help

Dr. Michele Mumm
Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Quality

Email: michelem@stcloudstate.edu
Phone: (320) 308-4066
In person: AS 210