Syracuse University has a long history of engaging in continuous improvement. More recently, over the past 10 years, the campus has embarked on an institution‐wide initiative to implement an assessment framework across academic, co-curricular, and functional areas to inform decision-making. The framework provides a systematic process for examining student learning and operational outcomes while offering flexibility in how faculty, staff, and administrators carry out individual assessment and action plans.
The timeline below highlights important assessment-related milestones.
2020s
2023
The Institutional Effectiveness Committee (IEC) is established to solidify Syracuse University’s commitment to institutional effectiveness and operates in tandem with the EEC. IEC membership includes representatives from each administrative division/major area within the University.
2020s
2023
The Forum on Institutional Effectiveness (FIE), a campus-wide committee that originated as the University Assessment and Accreditation Committee, is renamed the Educational Effectiveness Committee (EEC). It is comprised of members representing the schools, colleges, and campus partners directly responsible for the student learning experience at Syracuse University, as well as the Graduate Student Organization and Student Association.
2020s
2023 - Ongoing
Inaugural funding of the Student Engagement in Assessment Grant supports faculty and staff in implementing action plans to increase student involvement in the assessment process in their respective areas.
2020s
2021 - Ongoing
The One University Assessment Celebration is established to recognize and celebrate faculty, staff, and students for their efforts to examine and enhance learning and operational success on an annual basis. Awards are given with honors in 4 categories: (1) Assessment Champions, (2) Outstanding Assessment, (3) Best Engagement Strategies (Students, Faculty, and Staff); and (4) Best Use of Results.
2010s
2019 - Ongoing
The inaugural Assessment Leadership Institute is held to support faculty in facilitating program-level assessment activities. Annually, recipients participate in a multi-day institute and receive a mini-grant award. Learning goals include gaining assessment knowledge and skills, including considerations for equity in assessment; identifying facilitation techniques to guide future efforts; and developing a sense of agency to inform program-level decision-making.
2010s
2019
The One University Assessment Poster Session is held for the first time to celebrate the campus community’s engagement in assessment activities to enrich student learning and campus operations. It showcases 19 posters from various academic, co-curricular, and functional areas.
2010s
2015 - Ongoing
Over 400 academic programs and 150 co-curricular and functional areas, including the dean offices and the University Senate, engage in ongoing assessment of student learning and operational effectiveness. Based on collected evidence, faculty and staff reflect on strengths and areas of underperformance to determine where action is needed. Efforts are documented in P&SS assessment management platform (formerly Tk20).
2010s
2015
The University Assessment and Accreditation Committee (UAAC) is established as a collaborative forum to sustain student learning outcomes assessment and institutional effectiveness initiatives. It is comprised of representatives from the schools/colleges, as well as the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, Enrollment and the Student Experience, the Graduate School Organization, Information Technology Services, Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment, Institutional Research, the Student Association, and Syracuse Abroad.
2010s
2014 – Ongoing
An institution-wide initiative begins with a comprehensive framework that provides a common structure yet enables each academic program and administrative/support unit to tailor efforts to meet specific needs.
National experts in the field visit campus to emphasize the value of assessment.
2010s
2014 - Ongoing
The Syracuse University Assessment Working Team (AWT) is formed to develop and implement the campus assessment initiative. The AWT evolves into the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment (IEA), which is charged with establishing campus policies, procedures and reporting frameworks for all academic degree programs, co-curricular programs and units, as well as functional/administrative units. The AWT consults with and provides support and resources to faculty and staff as they develop and implement assessment and action plans.
2010s
2010-2012
OIRA staff continue to provide feedback to school/college assessment coordinators on the implementation of assessment plans.
2000s
2006 -2009
As faculty develop and implement assessment plans, OIRA staff provide feedback to school/college assessment coordinators on these efforts.
2000s
2006
Schools/colleges are asked to prepare assessment plans incorporating direct measures to document student learning outcomes.
2000s
2006
The Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA) is established as the primary agency for coordination of campus-wide assessment and develops assessment templates and guidelines for the schools/colleges.
2000s
2001
The newly formed University Assessment Council (UAC) coordinates campus efforts to enhance learning outcomes. The Council expands beyond undergraduate assessment to include graduate student learning and research and develops strategies for schools/colleges to meet accreditation requirements.
1990s
1997 - 1999
The All-University Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee (AUSLOAC) systematically considers learning goals and student achievement and facilitates a campus discussion about appropriate learning outcomes based on courses, majors, and minors within schools/colleges.
1990s
1997
Vice Chancellor Vincow affirms that assessment should not be conducted for the sole purpose of accountability reporting, but for determining if Syracuse University is meeting student learning outcomes.
1990s
1995 - 1997
Student learning assessment transitions to a faculty-led initiative. Block grants and pilot programs allow schools/colleges to broaden assessment horizons and experiment with the use of various measures.
1990s
1993 - 1995
Assessment grants are provided to individual faculty members to assess student learning in their courses.
1990s
1992 - 1993
Expert consultants, seminars, newsletters, and workshops are sponsored by the Assessment Coordinating Committee to support faculty.
1990s
1992
With a new mission that prioritizes teaching, research, and student learning. Chancellor Shaw calls for the establishment of an assessment effort to identify programs that are superior in quality and those that need improvement.