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Idaho State University’s planning and institutional effectiveness framework is designed to support and further ISU’s mission.
This integrated framework forms the basis for ongoing and systematic assessment, adaptation, and improvement.
The Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Steering Committee is responsible for fostering a culture of continuous quality improvement at ISU through the implementation of the Planning and Institutional Effectiveness framework.
Committee Membership:
- Jennifer Steele, Vice President for Finance and University Planning
- Cynthia Hill, Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and ALO
- Laura Ahola-Young, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
- John Marlow, Director of Institutional Research
- Thomas Sharpe, Senior Data Scientist
- Adam Bradford, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Jenn Forshee, President Chief of Staff
- Craig Chatriand, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
- Renae Scott, Chief Information Officer
- Marty Blair, Vice President for Research and Economic Development
- Michelle Collier, Project Coordinator
- Jeremy Thomas, Provost Fellow for Accreditation and Professor of Sociology
ISU’s Strategic Plan identifies goals and objectives to support and improve the achievement of our mission and provides overarching direction for unit and cross-functional planning efforts at the university.
Regional Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) involves an extensive self-study, assessment, and peer review process designed to assure ISU meets established quality and effectiveness standards, with an emphasis on student learning and achievement.
University Project Charters are designed to address priority needs and opportunities for improving the university and the achievement of our mission. They range from short-term projects to multi-year initiatives.
Institutional Plans are cross-functional planning efforts that provide strategic direction for major functions of the university. Examples include the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan and Campus Master Plan.
Unit, program, and department plans support ISU’s strategic and institutional plans by operationalizing priorities and improvements at the program and service level.
Academic Units
All ISU Academic Programs are assessed annually in accordance with NWCCU standards 1.C.1 - 1.C. 7 and Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) Policy III.X. The process is both continuous and systematic, as evidenced by annual program reviews, seven-year self-studies for programs without specialized accreditation, and external reviews for programs with specialized accreditation.
Administrative and Support Units
All ISU administrative and support units participate in the Administrative and Support Unit Review (ASUR) process on a rolling-five year schedule, with annual assessment and progress reports.
Program Health
The ISU Program Health process aligns with Idaho State Board of Education Policy V.B.11 which requires institutions to incorporate program prioritization into the annual budgeting and program review process, and to provide annual updates to the Board. SBOE Policy III.F outlines the requirements for program prioritization, including criteria, timelines, and reporting requirements.
ISU’s budget model and annual budget development process allocate university resources in support of strategic and operational plans and priorities.
Assessment and reporting are built into all planning structures at ISU, with most plans requiring an annual review and report to evaluate progress toward established goals and objectives and make adjustments as needed.
Assessment of student learning is of particular importance to academic units, who work to ensure ISU students demonstrate key learning outcomes for every course and program of study.
Additional assessment and reporting is provided through university and specialized accreditation, IPEDS, federal reporting, and Idaho State Board of Education reporting.