2.5 Institutional Effectiveness

2.5    Institutional Effectiveness

The institution engages in ongoing, integrated, and institution-wide research-based planning and evaluation processes that (1) incorporate a systematic review of institutional mission, goals, and outcomes; (2) result in continuing improvement in institutional quality; and (3) demonstrate the institution is effectively accomplishing its mission.

 

  Compliance          ____  Partial Compliance          ___  Non-Compliance

   

Narrative:
South Louisiana Community College’s (SLCC) Annual Plans are a reflection of its institutional effectiveness or the extent to which SLCC achieves its mission and goals by matching its performance to its purpose through research-based planning and evaluation of processes. (1) The measurement of institutional effectiveness at SLCC is an on-going, institution-wide process of planning and assessment for continuous improvement and for producing evidence that SLCC is effectively achieving its mission, goals, and outcomes.

SLCC’s Strategic Plan was developed based on the parameters of the institution’s mission.  The mission specifies that SLCC “seeks to cultivate a learning environment in which participants develop the qualities and skills necessary to engage actively in the economy, governance, and culture of South Louisiana…” (2) The Strategic Plan specifies programs and objectives and strategies to create the targeted learning environment. The plan is also a mechanism by which the objectives specified within the mission are accomplished.  For example, a mission objective is to provide general education and associate degree programs that transfer to other two-year schools and to baccalaureate programs at four-year schools.  The Strategic Plan is to increase enrollment by increasing enrollment by 100% by 2012 with a specific strategy to promote transferability.  Another example of a mission objective is to provide specialized career training and technical skill development that provide for fuller participation by area citizens in the work place and the economy.  The Strategic Plan is to increase completion rate by ten percent.  Mission objectives and corresponding Strategic Plan objectives provide a solid foundation of planning initiatives upon which to ultimately accomplish our mission. (3)

SLCC accomplishes its mission at the most basic level through the use of unit level planning.  SLCC’s Planning and Evaluation Model illustrates the assessment process.

SLCC’s Planning and Evaluation Model
To demonstrate institutional effectiveness in an observable, measurable, and quantifiable way, SLCC blends strategic planning at the college level with unit level planning and assessment.  SLCC has established a five-year strategic planning cycle that sets institutional goals and objectives based on a review of community needs, economic/political trends, legislative mandates, identification of threats and opportunities, demographics of the region, and the college’s strengths and weaknesses as it relates to SLCC’s mission. Strategic directions derived from institutional goals and objectives are defined and indicators of effectiveness and performance standards are identified for each objective.  The strategic planning process also requires an evaluation plan or assessment of each objective and use of assessment results to improve educational outcomes and to make necessary adjustments in programs and services.  A visual representation of the model is presented on the next page.

Annually, the College identifies its objectives, strategies, performance standards, and evaluation methods.  Responsibilities are assigned for each planning unit.  The planning units at SLCC consist of educational units, student support services units, and administrative support services units. 

The Educational units consist of the following:

Programs (including Student Learning Outcomes)

  • Care and Development of Young Children (AA)
  • Criminal Justice (AS)
  • Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (AAS)
  • General Business (AS)
  • Industrial Technology (AS)
  • PREK-3/Associate of Science in Teaching (AST)
  • Associate of Arts/Louisiana Transfer (AALT)
  • Associate of Science/Louisiana Transfer (ASLT)

Departments (General Studies/General Education)

  • Arts and Humanities
  • English and Reading
  • Library
  • Mathematics
  • Microcomputer Information Systems
  • Natural Sciences
  • Social Sciences


Click here for the Planning and Evaluation Model

The Student Support Services units for SLCC are:

  • Academic Success Center
  • Counseling Services
  • Disability Services
  • Financial Aid
  • Registrar
  • Student Services

The Administrative Support Services units for SLCC are:

  • Academic and Student Affairs
  • Administration and Finance
  • Chancellor
  • Facilities
  • Instruction and Effectiveness
  • Information Technology

The annual unit plans are derived from a review of the previous Annual Plan. To provide clarity and consistency to the unit planning document the template was revised. The unit planning template (2009-2010) has the following information fields:

  • Planning Unit
  • Unit Type
  • Unit Mission
  • Year
  • Report Period
  • Strategic Annual Plan Link
  • Desired Outcomes & Target
  • Strategy
  • Budget Link
  • Assessment Method Instrument
  • Results
  • Use of Results for Improvement
  • Comments
  • Completion & Review Information

The annual unit plans are reviewed and approved by leadership team members.  The budget and allocation of resources for successful completion of the plans are incorporated into the fiscal year budget.  The plan is then executed.  Progress is monitored and adjustments made throughout the year.  There is a mid-year and final review.  The results are analyzed.  The individual unit planner maintains the unit plan’s documentation, which is verified by the Institutional Research Manager.

Institutional Effectiveness (IE)
The mechanism for implementing assessment and guiding institutional improvement is provided by the Dean of Instruction and Effectiveness and the Institutional Research Manager. The Dean oversees the planning and evaluation process for all facets of College operations.  The Institutional Effectiveness Committee serves as an advisory body to the Dean.  The Committee’s membership represents a broad spectrum of the College and is formed from program coordinators, academic department chairs, President of Faculty Senate, President of Student Government Association, Dean of Student Services, Registrar, Financial Aid Manager, ADA Coordinator, Counselor, Institutional Research Manager, and the Information Technology Manager.  The primary function of this committee during the 2009-2010 year was to link the College’s institutional effectiveness plan with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) initiatives.

Annual Plan Report
An outgrowth of the Institutional Effectiveness Plan is the Annual Plan Report which presents the institutional goals and objectives evaluated during the given year.  By design, the Annual Plan Report delineates for each desired outcome the performance standards used for measurement (target), the strategies outlined to achieve the desired outcome, a link to the budget if applicable, the assessment method instrument, the results of the assessment, and actions taken by units for improvements.  It is derived from data by the units or from analysis of data produced at the institutional level.  The document represents a report card which the College uses not only to present its accomplishments but also to communicate to members of the College community and public stakeholders its plans for continued improvement in programs and services.  As such, the Annual Plan Report both documents performance and serves as a guide for actions and procedures to be implemented in the upcoming year and in years to come.

 

Documentation:

(1) Annual Plan Reports
(2) Catalog
(3) SLCC 2007-2012 Strategic Plan