Mission
The Office for Institutional Assessment is to foster the consideration and use of nationally recognized assessment practices, strategies, and standards in the evaluation of Clemson University's programs and services. In the implementation of this assessment effort, the Office for Institutional Assessment must encourage the collection of a wide range of data from a variety of reliable sources. Further, the Office must endeavor the ensure that all assessment data is used as the foundation for continuous improvement efforts throughout the Clemson campus. In so doing, the Office for Institutional Assessment must encourage that all data, positive and negative, be objectively considered and analyzed in any and all initiatives that truly focus on improvement of operational effectiveness.
The Office for Institutional Assessment must encourage the development of a climate and culture of assessment that is comprehensive and inclusive. Considerable effort must be devoted to the effort to infuse and imbed a positive culture of assessment. The Office for Institutional Assessment is charged to implement a pervasive structure of assessment that will become self-sustaining and vibrant within the Clemson University Community.
University Assessment Committee
Working closely with the University Assessment Committee, the Office for Institutional Assessment provides technical direction and expertise in such matters as instrument selection and design, test cohort selction, establishment of effectiveness measures for testing, development of techniques and requirements for verification of effectiveness, and specification of standards for technical documentation. Together, the Office for Institutional Assessment and the University Assessment Committee formulate policies related to assessment, recommend those policies to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, and implement all policies which are approved.
Service Provider
The Office for Institutional Assessment provides assistance to colleges, departments, faculty, and other units of Clemson University. Assistance is provided in the identification of appropriate information pertinent to measuring programmatic outcomes. The context of this effort incorporates institutional and unit goals, South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) requirements, and the mandates of external professional accrediting groups. The Office provides an additional service by acting as the central repository of assessment information as well as the distribution point for those assessment activities which are conducted a the University level. This centralized reporting function is used by the Office of Institutional Assessment to develop and submit the annual Institutional Effectiveness Report to the CHE.
Represents Clemson University
The Office for Institutional Assessment serves as the contact point and liaison between Clemson University and the planning and assessment staff at the CHE. The Office works to ensure the integrity of assessment requirements of the CHE by offering advice and serving on CHE task forces, and maintaining membership in professional associations. Through these efforts the Office provides a link to statewide assessment initiatives. Additionally, the Office keeps abreast of national areas of emphasis in assessment and maintains a working library of publications on assessment and assessment related topics. The library is available as a resource for use by all members of the campus community.
Clemson University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Bachelor's, Master's, Education Specialist, and Doctor's degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call at 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Clemson University.