For assistance with program assessment, academic program review, or accreditation contact:

Dr. Cathy Barrette, WSU Senior Director of Assessment & Accreditation, for on-site, email, or Teams consultations about any aspect of program assessment, on-site workshops, working hours with your group, or access to/questions about Planning, our online assessment documentation system

Dr. Carly Overfelt, Associate Director of Assessment & Accreditation, at:

• apr@wayne.edu for questions about academic programs review (APR)
• accreditation@wayne.edu for questions about institutional accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission or support for specialized accreditation

The Office for Teaching and Learning (OTL) for workshops or consultation on course learning outcomes and assessments

Your University Assessment, APR & Accreditation Council representative for questions about good assessment practices, assessment procedures and committees, or to get more information about APR and accreditation.

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University Assessment, Academic Program Review (APR), and Accreditation Council (UAAAC) Mission and Structure

(Formerly the University Assessment Council)

Revision to the council charge approved 4/15/2025

Council mission

The mission of the University Assessment, Academic Program Review (APR), and Accreditation Council (UAAAC) is to promote and support continuous improvement in Wayne State University’s academic, co-curricular, and student services programs. UAAAC members do so by:

1. Communicating best practices, requirements, deadlines, resources, and opportunities for support to the university community,
2. Reviewing the quality of programs’ and units’ assessment practices and progress,
3. Identifying individuals and programs that merit recognition for their assessment, APR, or accreditation work,
4. Collecting, reporting, and using evidence of Wayne State’s assessment practices to improve those practices across campus and to support accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission, and
5. Advising the Senior Director of Assessment & Accreditation regarding strengths and weaknesses of assessment, APR, and accreditation practices, policies, practices, and processes.

Council membership:

1. WSU Senior Director of Assessment & Accreditation (chair)
2. Representatives from:
   • Academic Programs, Assessment & Accreditation (Office of the Provost)
   • each school and college
   • Student Services
   • University Libraries
   • The Office for Teaching and Learning
   • Student Senate

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Annual Assessment Plan Reviews, a Key UAAAC Initiative

What are the reviews for?

The council conducts an annual, rubric-based review of a sample of assessment plans to:

• Recognize and celebrate programs' good assessment practices
• Provide feedback and support to programs to help them improve assessment practices. (We do not evaluate the quality of the programs themselves!)
• Guide the council's activities in supporting campus assessment efforts
• Provide evidence to the Higher Learning Commission regarding our use of good assessment practices as part of our accreditation review.

What is the review process?

Because we have many programs and the review process is labor-intensive, the council reviews a strategic 10% sample of plans each year. The sample includes programs at the midpoint of their Academic Program Review or specialized accreditation cycle, plus a random sample of programs that have not been reviewed in the previous three academic years.

If your program is reviewed, your council member and the senior director of assessment will share your program's report with you and invite you to have a collegial, collaborative conversation about your program's assessment practices. (See a sample report.) This is a great opportunity for you to ask questions, and for us to cheer your good work, brainstorm ways to overcome challenges, or talk about how other programs with similar interests approach assessment while the council members learn more about you and your program.