University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (UPRM) Final Self
Transcription
University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (UPRM) Final Self
University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (UPRM) Final SelfStudy Design Submitted to: The Council of Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education 3624 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-2680 2/14/2014 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Introduction Glossary of Abbreviations Nature and Scope of Self Study Specific Goals and Objectives Organizational Structure of the Steering Team and Task Forces Charges to Task Forces Inventory of Support Documents Timetable Editorial Style and Format Organization of Final Self-Study Report Profile of the Evaluation Team Appendix 3 11 12 12 13 20 91 93 94 96 96 97 2 INTRODUCTION HISTORICAL SKETCH – UPRM AS PART OF THE LARGER UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO SYSTEM The University of Puerto Rico was created by an act of the Legislative Assembly on March 12, 1903. It emerged as an outgrowth of the Normal School, which had been established three years earlier with the purpose of training teachers for the Puerto Rican school system. In 1908, the benefits of the Morill-Nelson Act were declared applicable to the island, thus fostering the rapid growth of the University. Eloquent evidence of that growth was the establishment of the College of Liberal Arts at Río Piedras in 1910 and the College of Agriculture at Mayagüez in 1911. It was in the College of Agriculture that the Mayagüez Campus as we know it today had its origin. Credit for the establishment of the College is given to the joint effort of D. W. May (Director of the Federal Experiment Station), José de Diego, and Carmelo Alemar. A year later, the school received the name that it bore for 50 years: the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The strengthening and diversification of the academic programs at Mayagüez were recognized years later when, in 1942, as a result of the university reform, the campus was organized with a considerable degree of autonomy into the Colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, and Science under the direction of a vice chancellor. The expansion continued through the 1950s, when many programs flourished in the University. At Mayagüez, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Nuclear Center were established. At Río Piedras, the Colleges of Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Business Administration emerged. At San Juan, the Schools of Medicine, Odontology, and Tropical Medicine were established. In 1966, the Legislative Assembly reorganized the University of Puerto Rico into a system of autonomous campuses, each under the direction of a chancellor. The College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts became the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. Today, the Mayagüez Campus of the University of Puerto Rico continues its development in the best tradition of a Land Grant institution. It is a coeducational, bilingual, and nonsectarian school. It comprises the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, and the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. The College of Agricultural Sciences encompasses the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Agricultural Extension Service. As of Fall 2013, the Campus had 684 instructional faculty (660 full-time and 24 part-time), which includes those who are tenured, on tenure-track, and not on tenure-track. In terms of student enrollment, a total of 11, 838 students were enrolled (10,944 undergraduates and 894 graduates). 3 UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO – MISSION STATEMENT The University of Puerto Rico, as a public institution of higher education, is bound by law to serve the people of Puerto Rico in accordance with the ideals of a democratic society such as ours. It is important to highlight that the vision and mission of the UPRM from 2004 until December 2011 is slightly different from the current January 2012 vision and mission. This change resulted from the approval of the new strategic plan by all constituents, and the revision of the institution’s vision and mission. The 2004-2011 vision was: To become a leading institution of higher learning in Puerto Rico and throughout the entire American hemisphere while responding to the needs of a modern society within dynamic and diverse surroundings while searching unceasingly for truth, knowledge, justice, and peace. The mission was: 1. To form educated, cultivated citizens capable of critical thinking and professionally prepared in the fields of agricultural sciences, engineering, natural sciences, humanities, arts, and business administration capable of contributing to the educational, cultural, social, technological and economic development of Puerto Rico and the international community within a democratic and collaborative framework. 2. To promote research and creative endeavors to meet the needs of our local and international society while preserving, transmitting, and advancing knowledge. 3. To provide excellent service that will contribute to the sustainable and balanced development of our society. 4. To share knowledge so that it becomes accessible to all. The current UPRM’s vision is: To be a leading institution in higher education and research, transforming society through the pursuit of knowledge in an environment of ethics, justice, and peace. As of January, 2012 the mission is: To excel in our service to Puerto Rico and the world by: • Forming citizens who are well-educated, cultivated, and critical thinkers, professionally prepared in the fields of agricultural sciences, engineering, arts, sciences, and business administration so they may contribute to the 4 • educational, cultural, social, technological, and economic development. Performing creative work, research, and service to meet society’s needs and to make available the results of these activities to everyone. We provide our students with the skills and sensitivity needed to effectively address today’s problems and to exemplify the values and attitudes that should prevail in a democratic society that treasures and respects diversity. Different from our previous decennial visit, the UPRM’s strategic plan highlights seven objectives which are: • To institutionalize a culture of strategic planning and assessment. • To lead higher education throughout Puerto Rico while guaranteeing the best education for our students. • To increase and diversify the Institution’s sources of revenue. • To adopt efficient and expedient administrative procedures. • To strengthen research and competitive creative endeavors. • To impact our Puerto Rican society. • To strengthen the UPRM’s sense of belonging and institutional pride ORGANIZATION CHART AT UPRM The Table on page ten shows the complete organizational chart of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. All administrative units, as well as the academic units, are included in the chart. ACADEMIC PROGRAMS WITHIN EACH ACADEMIC UNIT The University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez has four colleges: College of Agricultural Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business Administration, and College of Engineering. Each of these four colleges offers the following academic programs: COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Soil Science, Animal Industry, Crop Protection, Education in Agricultural Extension, General Agriculture, Horticulture, Mechanical Agricultural Technology, and Agricultural Education. In addition, the college offers a non-degree program of study in Pre- Veterinary Studies for those students who will be pursuing studies in veterinary medicine. 5 Master of Science Agronomy, Soils, Horticulture, Crop Protection, Animal Industry, Agricultural Economics, Food Science & Technology, Agricultural Education, and Agricultural Extension. COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Bachelor of Science Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Industrial Microbiology, Industrial Biotechnology, Nursing, Physical Sciences, Pre-Medical Sciences, Theoretical Physics, Computer Science, Pure Mathematics, and Mathematics Education. Bachelor of Arts English, Hispanic Studies, Philosophy, Comparative Literature, Plastic Arts, Theory of Art, French Language and Literature, History, General Social Sciences, Sociology, Political Science, Psychology, Economics, and Physical Education. Master of Science Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, and Physics Master of Marine Sciences Master of Arts Hispanic Studies, English Education, and Kinesiology Doctor of Philosophy Marine Sciences, Applied Chemistry COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Accounting, Computerized Information Systems, Finance, Industrial Management, Marketing, Organizational Studies (Human Resources) Bachelor in Office Administration 6 Master in Business Administration Finance, General Program, Human Resources, Industrial Management COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Bachelor of Science Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Surveying & Topography, General Engineering Master of Science Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Industrial Engineering Master of Engineering Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Doctor of Philosophy Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computing and Information Sciences and Engineering Degrees in Progress The following academic programs have been approved at the UPR level. These programs have been submitted to CEPR and are waiting for approval to begin offering: BS- Computer Science and Engineering MS- Material Sciences and Engineering MS and Ph.D.- Bioengineering Ph.D.- Electrical Engineering Ph.D.- Mechanical Engineering MS- Precollege Mathematical Education 7 STUDENT ENROLLMENT PROFILE – FALL 2013 Male Undergraduate Students 5468 Graduate Students 456 Total 5924 Full-Time Female Total Male Part-Time Female Total Male Total Female Total 4751 10219 391 334 725 5859 5085 10944 382 838 28 28 56 484 410 894 5133 11057 419 362 781 6343 5495 11838 INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL - FALL 2013 The Tables below list Instructional Personnel labeled as “Primarily Instruction” and “Instruction/Research/Public Service” in the Fall 2013 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and the number of faculty members with doctoral degrees. The data used for this survey and for IPEDS is based on the Faculty Academic Workloads available at the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs. Full-Time Part-Time Male Total FTE* Full-Time Part-Time Female Total FTE* Full-Time Part-Time Total Total FTE* Tenure Track 41 0 41 41.00 33 0 33 33. 74 0 74 74.00 FACULTY STATUS Non-tenure Track Tenured 358 11 0 15 358 26 16.96 358.0 192 25 0 9 192 34 192.0 29.92 550 36 0 24 550 60 550.00 46.8 Total 410 15 425 415.96 250 9 259 254.92 660 24 684 670.88 *FTE refers to a Full Time Equivalent load of 12 credits 8 Faculty Members with Degrees Fall 2013 Instructional Faculty Highest Degree As of November 1st, 2012 College Bachelor Master Doctoral Other Unavailable Total Unavailable 0 3 0 0 0 3 Agricultural Sciences 5 18 49 0 30 102 Arts & Sciences- Arts 1 53 122 1 0 177 Arts & SciencesSciences 1 35 157 0 0 193 Engineering 2 19 147 0 1 169 Business Administration 1 23 16 0 0 40 Total 10 151 491 1 31 684 9 University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus Organizational Structure Governing Board President’s Office Administrative Board Pre-school Development Center Information Technology Center Dean of Administration Natatorium Dean of Academic Affairs Buildings and Grounds Department Admission Office Historic Archive Personnel Liaison Office Purchasing Office Finance Department Equal Opportunities for Employment General Library Center for Professional Enhancement Center for Resources in General Education (CIVIS) Military Sciences Property Office Human Resources Environmental Health and Safety Office Office of Environmental Management Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies Aerospace Studies Graduate Studies Office Auxiliary Services Registrar's Office Traffic and Surveillance Department Continuous Improvement and Assessment Office University Enterprises Printing Office Athletes Residence Campus Bookstore Secondary Education of Teacher Preparation Legal Advisor’s Office Dean of Students Athletic Activities Social and Cultural Activities Alumni Financial Aid Band and Orchestra Academic Senate Chancellor’s Office Institutional Research and Planning Office College of Business Administration Economic Development Center Office Administration Research and Development Center Press and Publications Budget Office College of Arts and Sciences Industrial Biotechnology Quality of Life Office Human Resources Physical Education Placement Finance Counseling and Psychological Services Industrial Management Agricultural Experiment Station College of Engineering Faculty of Agricultural Sciencies Agricultural Extension Service Civil Engineering and Surveying Electrical and Computer Engineering General Agricultural Material Sciences and Engineering Food and Science Technology Nursing Industrial Engineering Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Hispanic Studies Mechanical Engineering Agricultural Education Physics Geology Chemical Engineering Animal Industry Humanities Computerized Information Systems International Programs Office Office of Academic Senate, Administrative Board and Faculty Marine Sciences Economics Health Services College of Agricultural Sciences Social Sciences Marketing Water Resources and Environmental Research Institute Biology Accounting Student Exchange Programs and International Student Services Student Ombudsman Office Agricultural and Bio-systems Engineering English Mathematics Crops and Agroenvironmental Sciences Chemistry Horticulture Crop Protection Agronomy and Soils Revised August 2013 10 GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS UPR University of Puerto Rico UPRM University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus OMCA Office of Continuous Improvement and Assessment MSCHE Middle States Commission on Higher Education OIIP Office of Institutional Research and Planning ABET Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology AACSB Association to Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business ADOF Office Administration NCATE National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education NLNAC National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission ACS American Chemical Society NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association CID Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo (Research & Development Center) PRR Periodic Review Report CTI Center of Information and Technology CEPR Puerto Rico Education Council CGE General Student Council COE Student Evaluations IPEDS Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System GE General Education DECEP Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies CITA Food and Technology Science SEA Agricultural Extension CEP Centro de Enriquecimiento Professional (Professional Enrichment Center) PRCHE Puerto Rico Council of Higher Education LAI Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria (Intermural Athletic League) 11 NATURE AND SCOPE OF SELF-STUDY During January, 2012, the new strategic plan was implemented. This strategic plan is aligned with the fourteen standards of excellence (See Appendix). As an institution which believes that all aspects of UPRM need to be assessed (Self Study: Creating a Useful Process and Report, 2012), the steering committee decided that the self-evaluation process for our institution would be most meaningful via The Comprehensive Report. The rationale behind the selection of this model can be traced to the Final April 2005 MSCHE Report, which was submitted to the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez on April 5, 2005. Although the report states that all 14 standards were met, many suggestions were presented. The comprehensive report model will allow UPRM to assess our progress within all fourteen standards of excellence and provide suggestions, weaknesses, and strengths. OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez has experience in assessment in earlier educational projects such as the Manufacturing Engineering Education Partnership (MEEP) Learning Factory, which was funded by NSF in 1994; and Partnership for Spatial and Computational Research (PaSCoR), which was funded by NASA in 1998. Many of our programs have undergone or are currently in process of being accredited. Examples of these accreditation agencies are : Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), Accreditation Council for Business Schools (ACBSP), National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE/CAEP), National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), and the American Chemical Society (ACS). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) publication, Designs for Excellence – Handbook for Institutional Self-Study, refers to avoiding duplication and encouraging the use of recent research, reports, and evaluations. In order to replicate this experience on a campus-wide scale, we intend to draw upon the recent experiences of the accredited programs mentioned above. SPECIFIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The primary purpose of this self-study is to assess the strengths and weaknesses of this institution and, through this process, determine the courses of action which will enable us to sustain our academic excellence and better serve our constituents. Our main constituents are: students, parents, faculty, administrative personnel, employees, alumni, employers, and the external community. While it cannot be ignored that any impending accreditation visit by an external agency tends to serve as a catalyst to drive institutional self-assessment efforts, our ultimate purpose should be to independently internalize this process with the goal of improving our services to our constituents. 12 The specific objectives of the self-study are: a. Implementing and assessing the recent comprehensive institutional strategic plan b. Implementing a comprehensive outcomes assessment plan including student learning outcomes c. Educating the UPRM community about our mission and objectives. d. Reviewing and acting upon student learning outcomes results to benefit our students as well as the institution at large. e. Improving campus-wide awareness of the benefits of continuous selfevaluation, and set in motion the institutionalization of an outcomes assessment program to help in better decision- making and fulfillment of the needs of our constituents. f. Determining where we stand as UPRM and moving forward towards becoming the institution of preference by the Puerto Rico citizens. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE STEERING TEAM AND TASK FORCES After much insistence by a 2005 steering committee member (now Accreditation Liaison Officer- ALO) to the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Darnyd Ortiz, the Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Dr. Jorge Rivera Santos, called for a meeting on October 30, 2012. The members at this meeting were: the Chancellor, Dean of Academic Affairs, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, Professor Nilsa Velásquez, the Director of the Institutional Research and Planning Office, Dr. Noel Artiles, and the Director of Graduate Studies and now ALO, Dr. Betsy Morales, to discuss potential members who would likely constitute the Institutional Steering Team. The Chancellor offered and appointed Dr. Betsy Morales as the MSCHE Steering Committee Coordinator and requested she recruit the members who would serve as Coordinators per standard. Given Dr. Morales’ experience with the prior accreditation (2005), she invited key members who had prior experience with accreditation. The Team composition would represent all colleges and be responsible for developing the Self-Study Design for the Self-Study Report in preparation for the MSCHE visit during Spring 2016. The Steering Team, which would consist of multiple Task Forces to address the fourteen (14) standards as outlined in The Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education, would be responsible for the development of relevant Charge Questions to assist in the self-study process. This would require that a mechanism for the campus-wide self-study be developed to assess all 14 standards. During the summer, data collection instruments (questionnaires) were developed and numerous have been administered during the first semester of the 2013-2014 academic year (first year students, second/third, fourth/fifth students, directors, and faculty members). During the second semester of 2013-2014, the remaining questionnaires will be administered (e.g. nonteaching personnel, deans, chancellor). 13 The UPRM-MSCHE Institutional Steering Team consists of the following twelve Task Forces with their respective Coordinators. Overall Team Betsy Morales, Coordinator, ALO Department of English- Faculty of Arts and Sciences Task Force 1 Standard 1 – Mission, Goals and Objectives Betsy Morales, Coordinator, Professor Department of English, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Silvestre Colón, Professor, M a t h e m a t i c a l S c i e n c e s , Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Nancy Méndez, Associate Director of the Office of Research and Institutional Planning MSCHE Steering Committee Task Force 2 Standard 2 – Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal Standard 3 – Institutional Resources Mercedes Ferrer, Coordinator, Professor, Industrial Engineering Department Candida González, Professor, Business Administration Lucas Avilés, Interim Chancellor, Professor/Researcher, College of Agricultural Sciences Mercedes Ferrer, Professor, Industrial Engineering Wilson Crespo, Director, Budget Office Darío Torres, Administrator, R&D Center Rocío Zapata, Director, University Businesses Services “Empresas Universitarias de Servicio” Maria De Lourdes Conde, Human Resources Analyst Zobeida López, Special Assistant to the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Task Force 3 Standard 4 – Leadership & Governance Standard 5 – Administration Noel Artiles, Professor, Industrial Engineering Department Héctor Huyke, Professor, Department of Humanities Héctor Santiago, Professor/Researcher, College of Agricultural Sciences Miguel Seguí, Professor, College of Business Administration Nilsa Velázquez, Professor, Department of Economics Task Force 4 Standard 6 – Integrity Halley Sánchez, Coordinator, Department of Humanities, College of Arts & Sciences Linda Beaver, Professor, Agricultural Sciences Jose A. Cruz, Professor, College of Business Administration William J Frey, Professor, Business College of Administration (Ethicist) Christopher Papadopoulos, Professor, Engineering School 14 Task Force 5 Standard 7 – Institutional Assessment Cristina Pomales-Garcia, Coordinator, Professor, Industrial Engineering David Suleiman, Professor, Chemical Engineering Luz Gracia, Professor, College of Business Administration Valerie Galarza, Undergraduate Student, Department of Social Sciences Task Force 6 Standard 8 – Student Admissions Sonia M. Bartolomei-Suárez, Coordinator, Professor Industrial Engineering Madeline Rodríguez, Director of the Admissions Office María Barbot, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the College of Arts and Sciences Manuel Jimenez, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the College of Engineering Lizzette González, Interim Assistant Dean of College of Agricultural Science Lucyann Fernández, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Business Administration Freya Toledo, Professor , General Engineering Department and Coordinator of the UPRM Open House María Almodóvar, Professional Counselor Raúl Machiavelli, Professor, Agricultural Sciences, Interim Director of Graduate Studies Task Force 7 Standard 9 – Student Support Services Omell Pagán Parés, Coordinator, Industrial Engineering Rosie Torres de Calderón, Health Services Manuel E. Márquez, Student Council (CGE) Griselys Rosado, Academic Advising Yomarachaliff Luciano, Alumni Jorge I. Frontera Rodríguez, Library Xiomara Pratts Peña, Quality of Life Margarita Carlo, Placement Santos Torres, Band and Orchestra Briseida Meléndez, Registrar Yamil Negrón, Financial Aid Pura Vincenty Pagán, Professional Counseling Aileen Ramírez, Social and Cultural Activities 15 Task Force 8 Standard 10 – Faculty Gayle W. Griggs, Coordinator, Professor, Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences Maribel Acosta Lugo, Professor, Department of Hispanic Studies, Interim Associate Director of Graduate Studies Lysa Chizmadia, Professor, Department of Geology Aury Curbelo Ruiz, Professor, College of Business Administration Saylisse Dávila, Professor, Industrial Engineering Carlos Quiñones Padovani, Professor, Department of Physical Education Enid Arcelay, Professor, Agricultural Sciences Jordan McGee, student, Agricultural Sciences Task Force 9 Standard 11 – Educational Offerings Jorge A. Gonzalez, Coordinator, Professor of Agricultural Economics Francisco Monroig Saltar, Professor, Agricultural Sciences Rosario Ortiz Rodríguez, Professor, College of Business Administration Jeffrey Valentín Mari, Professor, Economics Raul Zapata, Professor, Civil Engineering Irene Ocasio, Adminstrative Official 1- Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs. Task Force 10 Standard 12 – General Education Mabel Ortiz, Coordinator, Professor, Department of English, College of Arts & Sciences Duane Kolterman, Professor, Department of Biology Jeannette Santos, Professor, General Engineering John Fernández, Professor, Agricultural Sciences Noemí Maldonado, Professor, Department of Humanities Mariela Ballester, student, Department of Social Sciences Ricardo Méndez, student, Department of Geology Task Force 11 Standard 13 – Related Educational Activities Pedro Vásquez, Coordinator, Professor of Mathematical Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences José Ferrer López, Director, Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies José Cuevas, Director, Center of Information and Technology Kevin Carroll, Professor, Department of English Ellen Acarón, Coordinator, COOP Program 16 Task Force 12 Standard 14 – Assessment of Student Learning Bernadette M. Delgado, Coordinator, Professor, Department of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences Ivelisse Padilla, Professor, Department of Chemistry Aidsa Santiago, Professor, General Engineering Roberto Vargas, Professor, Crop and Agro-Environmental Science Yolanda Ruiz, Professor, College of Business Administration Irmarie Cruz, Student Representative, Psychology Ex officio Members: Dr. Jaime Seguel, Interim Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Héctor Jiménez, Interim Director of the Office of Institutional Research and Planning 17 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INSTITUTIONAL STEERING TEAM The roles and responsibilities of the institutional steering team include: 1. Developing logistics and carrying out the self-study process for the accreditation visit in 2015-16. This would include coordinating the evaluation visit and preparing the institutional response. 2. Meeting regularly, as often as necessary, to discuss and approve tasks assigned to each Task Force, such as: the development of charge questions for each of the 14 Standards of Excellence, and the design the questionnaires to be distributed campus- wide to obtain effective and comprehensive feedback. 3. Administering t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s c a m p u s -wide, a n a l y z i n g a l l r e s p o n s e s , and recommending corrective actions, and if necessary, redesigning elements of the questionnaires to provide the most effective input as a measure of our self-study and continuing improvement. 4. Interviewing all external/internal community constituents as another means to answer our self -study charge questions and to determine what is needed for our continuing improvement. 5. Providing campus-wide orientations to each of the four colleges as well as other administrative units about the impending accreditation visit, but more importantly, about the need to incorporate assessment methods for continuous quality improvement. This would include promoting active participation from the academic community throughout the self-study process. 6. Studying and developing plans for institutional assessment, and for student learning outcomes assessment. 7. Analyzing all received data for self study report 8. Creating self study reports by standard, which includes findings, strengths, areas needing improvement, and commendations 9. Maintaining an updated website with accurate information on institutional selfstudy efforts for public access. FORMATION OF THE TASK FORCES Task Force Coordinators select the members at their own initiative, and exercise ultimate discretion in the formation of their teams. However, they make sure that key administrative units (colleges) are well represented in the process. 18 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TASK FORCES 1. All Task Force Coordinators will call for meetings of their respective Task Force as and when necessary for the proper functioning of the Task Force. Proper minutes will be maintained by all Task Force Coordinators. 2. All Task Force members will familiarize themselves with Characteristics of Excellence, previous self-study reports, their findings, changes in criteria, and recommendations resulting from the 2005 Self Study. 3. All Task Forces will receive input from the various campus units on questionnaires to be administered in October/November 2013, analyze their results, and revise these questionnaires, if necessary, prior to administering them again the following semester. These tasks would be carried out during every semester and then reported in the individual Task Force Report. These individual Task Force Reports would form the backbone of the campus SelfStudy Report that would be submitted to MSCHE. 4. If necessary, all task forces may interview any external/internal community constituents as another means of answering the charge questions. IV. CHARGES TO TASK FORCES This section lists the Charge Questions developed by each of the Task Forces. For the 2005 accreditation, charge questions were also utilized and facilitated in determining what needed improvement. For the 2015 accreditation, the team will use the last report to establish where we stand and where we need to advance. 19 CHARGES TO TASK FORCES 20 TASK FORCE I - STANDARD 1 Standard 1: Mission, Goals, and Objectives: The institution’s mission clearly defines its purpose within the context of higher education and explains whom the institution serves and what it intends to accomplish. The institution’s stated goals and objectives, consistent with the aspirations and expectations of higher education clearly specify how the institution will fulfill its mission. The mission, goals, and objectives are developed and recognized by the institution with its members and it’s governing body and are utilized to develop and shape its programs and practices and to evaluate its effectiveness. Task Force Members: Betsy Morales Caro, Professor, Department of English (Coordinator); Silvestre Colón, Professor, M a t h e m a t i c a l S c i e n c e s , Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Nancy Méndez, Associate Director of the Office of Research and Institutional Planning; MSCHE Steering Committee Purpose: The Mission Planning Task Force will examine UPRM’s process of development and implementation of a comprehensive institutional strategic plan. It will examine the clarity of UPRM’s purpose, relevance, uses, and applications. The mission of the UPRM is stated as follows (Certified by the Administrative Board, 11-12-137): To provide excellent service to Puerto Rico and to the world: • Forming educated, cultivated, capable, critical thinking citizens professionally prepared in the fields of agricultural sciences, engineering, arts, sciences, and business administration so they may contribute to the educational, cultural, social, technological and economic development. • Performing creative work, research and service to meet society’s needs and to make available the results of these activities. We provide our students with the skills and sensitivity needed to effectively resolve problems and to exemplify the values and attitudes that should prevail in a democratic society that treasures and respects diversity. Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2011) and coded with an "F" to indicate a fundamental element or an "O" to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1 [a], F1 [b] and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. 21 Fundamental & Optional Questions regarding Mission and Objectives Inquiry Questions 1. What evidence is there that the mission and the strategic objectives of the UPRM guide faculty, administration, staff, and governing bodies in making decisions related to planning, resource allocation, program and curriculum development, and definition of program outcomes?* 2. What evidence is there that the mission and strategic objectives of the UPRM include support of scholarly and creative activity, at levels and of the kinds appropriate to the mission of the UPRM? Sources of Data Documents generated by UPRM Administrative Board, UPR University Board, and UPR Board of Governors. New academic program proposals Academic Senate proceedings/records Annual reports (at different levels: department, college and institution) Annual reports from Dean of Agricultural Extension Services and Agricultural Experimental Stations Master Plan for Infrastructure Development OMCA Reports Strategic Plans Documents generated by UPRM Administrative Board, UPR University Board, and UPR Board of Governors. New academic program proposals Academic Senate proceedings/records CID Annual Reports Annual reports (at different levels: department, college, administrative, and institution) Strategic Plans Assessment Reports OMCA Reports Administrative Reports Surveys Elements F1 [a] F1[b] 22 Inquiry Questions 3. What evidence is there that the m i s s i o n a n d objectives of the UPRM were developed through collaborative participation by those who facilitate or are otherwise responsible for institutional improvement and developments? 4. What evidence is there that the mission and objectives of the UPRM are periodically evaluated and formally approved? 5. What evidence is there that the mission and the strategic objectives of the UPRM have been publicized and widely known by the institution’s members? Sources of Data Academic Senate certifications reviewing UPRM Strategic Plan Administrative Board certifications related to UPRM goals and objectives. Chancellor’s Initiative: Review of UPRM Strategic Plan. Work / minutes from colleges´ strategic planning committees. OIIP Interviews Annual Reports Chancellor reports Dean’s reports Administrative Board Certifications Department Strategic Plans Faculty Strategic Plans OIIP Deployment of plan to all units Minutes of strategic plan development meetings. Documents generated by UPRM Administrative Board, UPR University Board, and UPR Board of Governors. UPRM Web pages UPRM Catalogue Surveys OMCA Documents Pamphlets and published documents Elements F1[c] F1[d] F1[e] 23 Inquiry Questions 6. What evidence is there to support that the mission and objectives are discussed openly and frequently to respond to internal and external contexts and constituencies? 7. What evidence is there to support that the institutional objectives are consistent with the UPRM’s mission? Sources of Data Academic Senate certifications reviewing UPRM goals Administrative Board certifications related to UPRM goals and objectives. Chancellor’s Initiative: Review of UPRM Strategic Plan. Work / minutes from college planning committees Accreditation Reports Academic Senate certifications reviewing UPRM goals Administrative Board certifications related to UPRM goals and objectives. Chancellor’s Initiative: Review of UPRM Strategic Plan. Work / minutes from college planning committees Interviews OIIP Annual Reports OMCA Reports Interviews Elements F2 F3 24 Inquiry Questions 8. What evidence is there that the mission and objectives of the UPRM focus on student learning, other outcomes**, and institutional improvement? Sources of Data Academic Senate certifications reviewing UPRM goals Administrative Junta certifications related to UPRM goals and objectives. Chancellor’s Initiative: Review of UPRM Strategic Plan. Work / minutes from college planning committees Surveys Focus Groups OMCA Reports OIIP Exit Interviews Dean of Academic Affairs Elements F4 * Two periods are included: From 2004 until 2011 the mission and goals were approved by the Academic Senate in September, 2004 and revised in 2007. As of December, 2011, the mission and objectives were approved under the UPRM’s Strategic Plan 2012-2022. ** Other outcomes may include retention and graduation rates, research, and ventures. 25 STANDARD 2: PLANNING, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL RENEWAL An institution conducts ongoing planning and resource allocation based on its mission and goals, develops objectives to achieve them, and utilizes the results of its assessment activities for institutional renewal. Implementation and subsequent evaluation of the success of the strategic plan and resource allocation support the development and change necessary to improve and to maintain institutional quality. Task Force Members: Mercedes Ferrer, Chair (Associate Professor); Candida González (Professor); Lucas Avilés (Professor/Researcher); Mercedes Ferrer (Assistant Professor); Wilson Crespo (Director, Budget Office); Darío Torres (Administrator, R&D Center); Rocío Zapata (Director, University Businesses Services “Empresas Universitarias de Servicio”); Ma. De Lourdes Conde (Human Resources Analyst); Zobeida López (Special Assistant to the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences) Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2011) and coded with an "F" to indicate a fundamental element or an "O" to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1 [a], F1 [b] and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. Purpose: To evaluate the institutional planning process, its nature and quality, the interrelationship between planning and resource allocation, and their influence on institutional renewal. This includes, but is not limited to, verification of current policies and processes, the distribution of decision making authority within those processes, accountability allocation, and assessment. 26 Fundamental & Optional Questions regarding Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal Inquiry Questions Sources of Data 1. Are there clearly stated goals and objectives, both institution–wide and for individual units? a. How are the assessment results reflected on the institution/unit goals and objectives? Budget Office OIIP OMCA Documents Deanships Administrative Unit, Department and Program Directors b. How are goals and objective linked to the institutional Planning Committees mission? 2. How are goals and objectives used for planning and resource allocation at all levels? Administrative Board Budget Office OIIP OMCA Documents Deanships Administrative Unit, Department and Program Directors Planning Committees Administrative Board Budget Office OIIP b. How are assessment results incorporated into the planning and OMCA Documents improvement process? Deanships Administrative Unit, Department and Program Directors Planning Committees Elements F1 F1 3. How are planning and improvement processes communicated? a. How does the process allow for constituent participation? F2 27 Inquiry Questions 4. Describe the decision making process and whether it facilitates or not planning and renewal processes 5. Is authority over those processes well defined? a. Define faculty roles in the planning process b. Define administrators’ role in the planning process. c. How does the institution evidence its commitment with planning and institutional renewal processes effort? Sources of Data Regulations Relevant Certifications Circular Letters Regulations Relevant Certifications Circular Letters Budget Office OIIP OMCA Documents Deanships Administrative Unit, Department and Program Directors Planning Committees 6. Is there assurance of accountability over such processes? a. How is the work done by the parties involved in planning and budget activities assessed? b. How is the work done by the parties involved in planning and budget activities encouraged and recognized? Regulations Relevant Certifications Circular Letters OIIP OMCA Documents 7. How many institutional and unit improvement efforts and their results have been documented? OIIP OMCA Documents Deans Administrative Unit, Department and Program Directors Assessment Coordinators Planning Committees Elements F3 F3, F4, O2, O3(b) F4, O8 F5 28 Inquiry Questions Sources of Data 8. How many programs have been reviewed in response to the assessment process and accreditation efforts? Deans Administrative Unit, Department and Program Directors Accreditation Coordinators 9. How do external affiliations and partnerships impact institutional operations? OIIP OMCA Documents Deans Administrative Unit, Department and Program Directors 10. How is the effectiveness of planning efforts assessed? 11. How is the effectiveness of resource allocation assessed? 12. How is the effectiveness of institutional renewal processes assessed? 13. What tools, techniques or methodologies have been implemented as part of the improvement efforts? OIIP OMCA Documents Deans Administrative Unit, Department and Program Coordinators Administrative Board Budget Office OIIP Deans Administrative Board OIIP OMCA Documents Deans OIIP OMCA Documents Deans Elements O5 O9 F6 F6 F6 O12 29 STANDARD 3: INSTITUTIONAL RESOURCES The human, financial, technical, facilities, and other resources necessary to achieve an institution’s mission and goals are available and accessible. In the context of the institution’s mission, the effective and efficient uses of the institution’s resources are analyzed as part of ongoing outcomes assessment. Task Force Members: Mercedes Ferrer, Chair (Associate Professor); Candida González (Professor); Lucas Avilés (Professor/Researcher); Mercedes Ferrer (Assistant Professor); Wilson Crespo (Director, Budget Office); Darío Torres (Administrator, R&D Center); Rocío Zapata (Director, University Businesses Services “Empresas Universitarias de Servicio”); Ma. De Lourdes Conde (Human Resources Analyst); Zobeida López (Special Assistant to the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences) Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2011) and coded with an "F" to indicate a fundamental element or an "O" to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1 [a], F1 [b] and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. Purpose: To evaluate the institutional resources, its nature and quality, the interrelationship between planning and resource allocation, and their influence on the institution. This includes, but is not limited to, verification of current policies and processes, the distribution of decision making authority within those resources and processes, accountability allocation, and assessment. 30 Fundamental & Optional Questions regarding Institutional Resources Inquiry Questions 1. What strategies and tools are used to measure and assess the level of resources needed? 2. What strategies and tools are used to measure and assess the efficient utilization of institutional resources? 3. What are the procedures and policies used to determine allocation of assets? 4. What approach is used to ensure adequate faculty, staff, and administrator allocation to support institutional needs? Sources of Data Elements Administrative Board OIIP Budget Office Deans Administrative Board OIIP Budget Office Deans Board of Trustees Administrative Board Central Budget Office Budget Office F1 Administrative Board Chancellor’s Office Deans Administrative Unit, Department and Program Directors F3 F1 F2 31 Inquiry Questions Sources of Data Administrative Board OIIP Budget Office Deans Elements 6. How are assessment documents and results used for allocating resources? OIIP Budget Office OMCA Documents Deans F4 7. How is the effectiveness of resource allocation assessed? OIIP OMCA Documents Deans F4 OIIP Permanent Improvement Plan Dean of Administration (Planta Física) F5 OIIP Deans F6 5. How are financial planning and budgeting processes aligned with strategic planning? 8. Is there a comprehensive infrastructure and master plan for the institution? a. Does it include a life-cycle management plan for infrastructure? b. Is there evidence of implementation? 9. Are support facilities (computer labs, library) recognized in the plan? How are the personnel and budget needs of support facilities assessed and fulfilled? F4 32 Inquiry Questions 10. What is the plan for the renovation and replacement of educational and technological equipment? a. Are they appropriate for the educational programs? b. Is there evidence of implementation? 11. What controls exists to deal with financial, administrative, and auxiliary operations? 12. What policies and procedures exist to determine allocation of assets? 13. What is the schedule for future and past independent audits on financial matters? a. Is there evidence of follow-up of any cited concerns? 14. How is the effective and efficient use of institutional resources assessed? Sources of Data Elements Technology Center Dean of Academic Affairs Dean of Students Faculty Deans OIIP Chancellor’s Office Budget Office Finance Internal Audit Research and Development Center Regulations Certifications Budget Office Board of Trustees Chancellor’s Office Comptroller’s Office Finance (Campus and Central Administration) Internal Audit Research and Development Center F7 Administrative Board Chancellor Budget Office OIIP OMCA Documents Deans F10 F8 F8 F9 33 Standards 4: Leadership and Governance The institution’s system of governance clearly defines the roles of institutional constituencies in policy development and decisionmaking. The governance structure includes an active governing body with sufficient autonomy to assure institutional integrity and to fulfill its responsibilities of policy and resource development, consistent with the mission of the institution. Task Force Members: • • • • • Noel Artiles, Ph.D. Professor, Industrial Engineering Department. Héctor Huyke,Ph.D. Professor, Humanities Department. Héctor Santiago, Ph.D. Professor/Researcher, College of Agricultural Sciences Miguel Seguí, LLM, Professor, College of Business Administration. Nilsa Velázquez, J.D., Professor, Economics Department. The MSCHE’s “Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education” states that “the primary goal of governance is to enable an educational entity to realize fully its stated mission and goals and to achieve these in the most effective and efficient manner that benefits the institution and its students. Institutional governance provides the means through which authority and responsibility are assigned, delegated, and shared in a climate of mutual support and respect.” The UPRM academic community adheres to this objective. Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (Online Version - Revised March 2009) and coded with an "F" to indicate a fundamental element or an "O" to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. 34 Fundamental & Optional Questions regarding Leadership and Governance Inquiry Questions [Reference “Characteristics of Excellence”, p. 15 - 17] 1. Provide evidence t h a t U P R M h a s a well-defined system of collegial governance including written policies outlining governance responsibilities of faculty, administration, and governing boards (Governing Board, University Board, and Administrative Board)? Where are these policies readily available to the campus community? 2. Provide evidence t h a t U P R M h a s written go verning document s t hat: a. Delineate the governance structure and provide for collegial governance, the structure’s composition, duties and responsibilities as well as the selection process for the members of this structure. b. Assign authority and accountability for policy development and decision making, including a process for the involvement of appropriate institutional constituencies in policy development and decision making. c. Provide for the select ion process for governing body members. Sources of Data Elements UPR law and bylaws. Certifications of UPR Board of Regents, UPR University Board, UPRM Administrative Board, and Academic Senate F1 UPR law and bylaws. Certifications of UPR Board of Regents, UPR University Board, UPRM Administrative Board, and Academic Senate F2 UPR bylaws. Certifications of UPR Board of Regents, UPR University 3. Provide evidence t h a t U P R M offers appropriate opportunities for student Board, UPRM Administrative Board, and input regarding decisions that affect them. Academic Senate. UPR and UPRM General Student Regulations. Student survey. 4. Provide evidence t h a t U P R M h a s a governing body capable of reflecting UPR law and bylaws constituent and public interest and of an appropriate size to fulfill all its Bylaws, Certifications of UPR Board of responsibilities, and which includes members with sufficient expertise to assure that Regents. Deans’ survey. the body’s fiduciary responsibilities can be fulfilled. UPR law and bylaws 5. Provide evidence t h a t U P R M h a s a governing body not chaired by UPRM Bylaws, Certifications Chancellor or by UPR President. UPR Board of Regents F3 F4 F5 35 Fundamental & Optional Questions regarding Leadership and Governance Inquiry Questions [Reference “Characteristics of Excellence”, p. 15 - 17] Sources of Data 6. Provide evidence t h a t U P R M h a s a governing body that certifies to MSCHE that the institution Bylaws, Certifications of a. Is in compliance with the eligibility requirements, accreditation standards and UPR Board of Regents and UPRM policies of the Commission. Administrative Board. b. Describes itself in identical terms to all its accrediting and regulatory agencies. Communications of the Chancellor’s c. Communicates any changes in its accredited status. Office, Dean of Academic Affairs, and d. Agrees to disclose information required by the Commission to carry out its ALO to MSCHE. accrediting responsibilities, including levels of governing body compensation, if any. 7. Provide evidence t h a t U P R M h a s a conflict-of-interest policy for its governing bodies (Board of Regents, University Board, UPRM Administrative Board, PR Ethics Law and Regulations. Bylaws, Academic Senate), which addresses matters such as remuneration, contractual Certifications of relationships, employment, family, financial or other interests that could pose conflicts UPR Board of Regents and UPRM of interest, and that assures that those interests are disclosed and that they do not Administrative Board. interfere with the impartiality of governing body members or outweigh the greater duty to secure and ensure the academic and fiscal integrity of the institution. UPR law 8. Provide evidence t h a t U P R M h a s a governing body that assists in generating Board of Regents bylaws and resources needed to sustain and improve the institution. certifications. Deans’ survey 9. Provide evidence t h a t U P R M h a s a process for orienting new members and Academic Affairs (briefing for new faculty providing continuing updates for current members of its governing bodies on the members). Minutes of Faculty meetings at institution’s mission, organization, and academic programs and objectives? both the college and departmental levels. UPR Board of Regents, UPR University 10. Describe the procedure that UPRM has in place for the periodic objective Board, UPRM Administrative Board, and assessment of the governing body in reaching its stated objectives. UPRM Academic Senate Strategic Plans. Elements F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 36 Fundamental & Optional Questions regarding Leadership and Governance Inquiry Questions [Reference “Characteristics of Excellence”, p. 15 - 17] 11. Describe the process of appointing the chief executive officer at UPRM, in particular, which governing board appoints him/her, and what is his/her primary responsibility. Sources of Data Elements UPR Law and Regulations F11 UPR Board of Regents, UPR University 12. Describe UPRM’s process for the periodic assessment of the effectiveness of Board, UPRM Administrative Board, and institutional leadership and governance. UPRM Academic Senate certifications. 13. Describe UPRM’s process for the review of its written policies (submit evidence of implementation) that establish the processes for involvement of the governing UPR Board of Regents, UPRM body, administration, and faculty in policy development and decision making, Administrative Board, and UPRM specifically with respect to selection and evaluation of the chief executive officer or Academic Senate certifications. those in charge of operational/executive responsibilities; budgeting and resource Recruitment plans from colleges and development; oversight of the academic program; consultation regarding faculty departments. hiring, dismissal, promotion and tenure; and monitoring operations of the institution. UPRM Administrative Board and UPRM 14. Provide evidence that UPR and UPRM have plans for governing body orientation Academic Senate certifications. and self-assessment. Chancellor’s Office 15. Provide evidence that UPR and UPRM have written assessment from external UPR Central Administration. specialists invited to the institution for consultation on planning and selfChancellor’s Office. assessment issues. Faculty F12 O1 O4 O5 37 Fundamental & Optional Questions regarding Leadership and Governance Inquiry Questions [Reference “Characteristics of Excellence”, p. 15 - 17] Sources of Data 16. Provide evidence that UPRM has a. Written records to assess the carrying out of responsibilities by the governing body and its committees consistent with the institutional mission UPRM Administrative Board and UPRM and its definition of appropriate participation by internal institutional bodies. Academic Senate certifications. b. Faculty council/senate or similar body deliberation and recommendations on Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs matters such as the development of curriculum, standards for admission and graduation, and personnel actions such as hiring, promotion, dismissal and tenure of faculty. Elements O6 38 Standards 5: Administration The institution’s administrative structure and services facilitate learning and research/scholarship, foster quality improvement, and support the institution’s organization and governance. Task Force Members: • • • • • Noel Artiles, Ph.D. Professor, Industrial Engineering Department. Héctor Huyke,Ph.D. Professor, Humanities Department. Héctor Santiago, Ph.D. Professor/Researcher, College of Agricultural Sciences Miguel Seguí, LLM, Professor, College of Business Administration. Nilsa Velázquez, J.D., Professor, Economics Department. The MSCHE’s “Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education” states that “The administration should be organized with clearly defined roles and responsibilities and should have a thorough understanding of institutional mission, goals, and objectives.” The UPRM academic community strives and aspires to have an administrative structure whose members collectively contribute in guiding the institution to achieve its academic, operational and financial goals. Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (Online Version - Revised March 2009) and coded with an "F" to indicate a fundamental element or an "O" to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. 39 Fundamental & Optional Questions regarding Administration Inquiry Questions [Reference “Characteristics of Excellence”, p. 19 - 20] 1. Explain how the Chancellor carries out his primary responsibilities of (a) leading the institution toward the achievement of its goals, and (b) administrating the institution. 2. Provide evidence that UPRM has a Chancellor with the combination of academic background, professional training, and/or other qualities appropriate to an institution of higher education and the institution’s mission. 3. Provide evidence that UPRM has administrative leaders with appropriate skills, degrees and training to carry out their responsibilities and functions. 4. Provide evidence that UPRM has qualified staffing appropriate to the goals, type, size, and complexity of the institution. 5. Provide evidence that UPRM has adequate information and decision-making systems to support the work of administrative leaders. 6. Provide evidence that UPRM has clear documentation of the lines of organization and authority. Sources of Data UPR law and bylaws. UPRM Administrative Board Certifications. Communications from the Chancellor’s Office. Surveys to Academic Senate, Administrative Board, and to faculty Curriculum Vitae of UPRM’s Chancellors during the last 10 years. Surveys to Academic Senate, Administrative Board, and to faculty Curriculums Vitae of UPRM’s Deans during the last 10 years. Survey to directors and deans. Human Resources data bases. Surveys to Administrative Board, to students, staff, deans, directors, and faculty OIIP, CTI and Dean’s Offices. Survey to Academic Senate, Deans, and Directors. UPR Law. UPR General Regulations. Elements F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 40 Fundamental & Optional Questions regarding Administration Inquiry Questions [Reference “Characteristics of Excellence”, p. 19 - 20] Sources of Data UPR Law. UPR General Regulations. Certifications of UPR Board of Regents, 7. Provide evidence that UPRM periodically carries assessment of the effectiveness of UPR University Board, and UPRM administrative structures and services. Administrative Board. Chancellor’s, deans’, and directors’ offices. Survey to faculty. 8. Provide evidence that UPRM has regularly conducted review of the sufficiency and Surveys to deans, directors, supervisors, effectiveness of directors, supervisors and administrators to carry out the functions of staff, and faculty. the institution. 9. Provide evidence that UPRM has regularly conducted reviews of the adequacy of Surveys to deans, directors, supervisors, clerical, technological, and other support for administrative personnel? staff and faculty. 10. Provide evidence that UPRM, during the last 10 years, has carried out an analyses of the organizational structure and charts clearly indicating reporting/responsibility Surveys to deans and directors. relationships to ensure that it is appropriately structured, and analysis of the structure’s efficiency and effectiveness. 11. Provide evidence that UPRM has regularly conducted a. Assessments of staff attitudes and satisfaction. Surveys to deans, directors, supervisors, b. Staff development programs, with recommendations for improvement as and staff. appropriate. Elements F7 O1 O2 O3 O4 41 Standard 6 – Integrity In the conduct of its programs and activities involving the public and the constituencies it serves, the institution demonstrates adherence to ethical standards and its own states policies, providing support to academic and intellectual freedom. Sub-committee members: Halley D. Sanchez, Professor, Humanities (coordinator), Linda Beaver, Professor, Agricultural Sciences, Jose A. Cruz, Professor, Business Administration (and a computer Engineer), William J Frey, Business Administration (Ethicist), Christopher Papadopoulos, Assistant Professor, Engineering School Purpose: To assess the institution’s adherence to ethical standards, its own stated policies, and its support of academic and intellectual freedom. Fundamental Element Numbering System: Fundamental elements are referred to by the number used in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2006, twelfth ed. revised). An “F” indicates a fundamental element; an “O” indicates an optional element. Inquiry Question Charge 1: Determine with appropriate evidence the extent to which the institution complies with the right of its stakeholders to free and informed consent and has been truthful in how it represents itself to them. Some questions to be answered with appropriate data: a. Is the information disseminated by the university consistent with its stated mission, goals, and objectives? b. Are any changes to its stated mission, goals, and objectives, and other material changes, disclosed accurately and in a timely fashion? c. Is intuitional information provided in a manner that ensures student and public assess? d. Are catalogues readily available, and, if only available electronically, does the university Webpage provide a guide or index to catalog information? e. Are students provided with accurate information regarding programs of study, the average real time taken by students to complete their programs, their possibilities for success in their studies, and prospects for future employment? f. Are students properly informed about assessment, grievance, and disciplinary procedures? Source of Data Elements University Law General UPR Regulations UPRM Catalog Descriptive Pamphlets (Brochures) Information packet sent or presented to students Faculty Handbook Student Regulations Staff/Administrative Handbooks (exististent) Administrative Board Certifications Academic Senate Certifications Certifications from the Board of Governors (formerly Board of Trustees) Other material sent to students and/or Faculty, as provided by: Dean of Students Dean of Academic Affairs Dean of Administration Admission Office Questionnaires sent to: Deans Chairs Presidents of non-teaching unions Dialogue Committee Student Organizations Student Ombudsman F1, F2, F3, F4, F6, F8, F9, F10, F11, F12, F13, F15, F16, F17 (details below) F8 F8, F13 F16, F14, F15 F10, F11, F12 F9, F15, F16 F1 42 Inquiry Question g. Are faculty and non-teaching personnel duly informed about regulations regarding student assessment, grievance and disciplinary procedures? h. Are faculty provided with accurate information regarding what is expected of them, requirements and procedures for tenure and promotion, evaluation procedures, deadlines, discipline and dismissal procedures? i. j. k. l. Elements Elements Source of Da F2, F4 Guidance Counselors Surveys Faculty Randomly selected students Randomly selected employees Past reports sent to MSCHE, ABET, CES F2, F4 F8, F13, F14, F17 Are non-teaching employees provided with accurate information regarding what is expected of them, evaluation procedures, and discipline and dismissal procedures? Are accreditation agencies, funding agencies, and the public in general provided with accurate information regarding the institution? Are faculty, non-teaching personnel and students informed of the rules and regulations dealing with intellectual property rights? F6 F3 Are faculty, non-teaching personnel and students informed of the rules and regulations dealing with conflicts of interest? Charge 2: Assess the extent to which the institution’s procedures and practices exhibit fairness, due process, and respect for individuals. Some questions to be answered with appropriate data: a. Are students, faculty, and employees treated with respect by administration officials and other personnel in the bureaucracy? b. Are the procedures used to recruit (i) faculty, and (ii) nonteaching personnel fair and non-discriminatory? c. Are the procedures used to recruit and admit students nondiscriminatory and in accord with ethical standards? d. Are the procedures and practices used to evaluate (assess) and discipline students fair, respectful, and in accord with due process? e. Source Source of of Data Data Are the required and elective courses offered sufficiently available for students to graduate within the published program length? University Law General UPR Regulations Administrative Board Certifications Academic Senate Certifications UPRM Catalog Certifications from the Board of Governors (formerly Board of Trustees) Descriptive Pamphlets (Brochures) Information packet sent or presented to students Student Regulations Student Handbook Faculty Handbook Staff/Administrative Handbooks (where they exist) Other materials sent to students and/or Faculty, as provided by: Dean of Students Dean of Academic Affairs Dean of Administration F1, F2, F3, F4, F6, F7, F9 (details below) F3, F4 F2 F7 F1, F4 F9 F1 43 Inquiry Question f. g. h. i. j. k. l. Is there an institutional policy for dealing with cheating and plagiarism? If so, is it fair and in accord with due process? Source SourceofofData Data Is there an institutional procedure for dealing with student grievances? If so, is this procedure fair and in accord with due process? Are student grievances addressed promptly, appropriately and equitably? Are the procedures and practices used to evaluate, tenure, promote, and discipline faculty fair and in accord with due process and respect for the individual? Is there an institutional procedure for dealing with faculty grievances? If so, is this procedure fair and in accord with due process? Admission Office Questionnaires sent to: Deans Chairs Presidents of non-teaching unions Dialogue Committee Student Organizations Student Ombudsman Guidance Counselors Surveys Faculty Randomly selected students Randomly selected employees Past reports sent to MSCHE, ABET, C University Counsel Elements Elements Source of Da F1 F2, F4 F2, F4 F2, F4 Are the procedures and practices used to evaluate, promote, and discipline non-teaching personnel fair and in accord with due process and respect for the individual? F2, F4 Is there an institutional procedure for dealing with grievances by non-teaching personnel? If so, is this procedure fair and in accord with due process? F2, F4 Are non-tenure track, adjunct, and part time faculty treated fairly and with respect? 44 Inquiry Question m. n. o. Source Source of Data of Data Elements Elements Source of Da Are the practices connected with compensation fair? Is there an institutional policy for dealing with intellectual property rights of faculty? If so, is it fair and in accord with due process and respect for the individual? F4 F6 Is there an institutional policy to avoid and deal with conflicts of interest? If so, is it fair and in accord with due process and respect for the individual? p. Is there an institutional policy for dealing with intellectual honesty? If so, is it fair and in accord with due process? q. Is there an institutional policy for dealing with research integrity? If so, is it fair and in accord with due process? F3 F6 F6 Charge 3: In light of its stated mission, goals, and objectives, assess the extent to which the institution carries out its policies in a consistent, fair, respectful, and non-discriminatory manner. Some questions to be answered with appropriate data: a. Does the institution carry out its policies and practices in a manner that fosters a climate of adherence to ethical standards and respect among individuals? b. Does the institution carry out its policies and practices in a manner that fosters a climate of academic inquiry and intellectual and academic freedom? c. Does the institution carry out its policies and practices in a manner that avoids undue political influence? Charge 4: Identify if there exists a procedure to assess institutional integrity and to foster continuous improvement. Some questions to be answered with appropriate data: a. Does the institution have a procedure for the periodic assessment of institutional integrity as evidenced in institutional policies, processes, practices, and the manner in which these are implemented? Questionnaires and Surveys sent to: Faculty Randomly selected students Randomly selected employees Student organizations Professorial organizations Employee organizations (unions) Student Ombudsman Dialogue Committee F3, F5, F7 (detail below) F3, F7 F5 F5 Questionnaires and Surveys sent to: Faculty Randomly selected students Randomly selected employees Student organizations Professorial organizations Employee organizations (unions) Student Ombudsperson Dialogue Committee F18, O1, O2, O3, O6, O7. O8 (details below) F18 F18 45 Inquiry Question b. Source SourceofofData Data accuracy and consistency of information reported in faculty, staff and student handbooks, catalogues, and other official notifications distributed to either faculty, staff, or students? ii. news releases and public announcements in accord with institutional integrity? iii. procedures for students to add, drop, and withdraw from courses or programs? iv. conflicts of interest? v. intellectual property issues? vi. academic honesty? vii. research integrity? viii. promotions and tenure statistics? ix. student assessment and retention statistics? x. student grievance and disciplinary policy and procedures, as well as resulting actions and outcomes? Charge 5: Identify areas where policies and practices may be changed or enforcement strengthened to better comply with the above notions of fairness, truthfulness, due process, and respect for individuals. Source of Da O1 Does the institution have a procedure to periodically review for integrity the policies and procedures related to: i. Elements Elements O1 O2, O3 O5 O6, O8 O7 Questionnaires or Surveys sent to (or, when appropriate, interviews with): Chancellor Dean of Academic Affairs Dean of Students Dean of Administration Director, Office of Institutional Research and Planning Student Ombudsman Other Administrators Faculty Professorial Organization Randomly selected students F1-F16 O1-O8 46 STANDARD 7 Institutional Assessment The institution has developed and implemented an assessment process that evaluates its overall effectiveness in achieving its mission and goals and its compliance with accreditation standards. Task force members: Cristina Pomales-Garcia, Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering (Coordinator), Felix Zapata, Professor, Humanities; David Suleiman, Professor, Chemical Engineering; Luz Gracia, Assistant Professor, Business Administration; Valerie Galarza, Undergraduate Student, Social Sciences. Purpose: To examine the process by which UPRM develops and implements an assessment process, derived in a manner appropriate to the institution’s mission, goals and desired outcomes, and how it is made available to and used by those who develop institutional goals and carry out strategies to achieve them. The Task Force will present a documented analysis and provide recommendations for improvement. Element Numbering System: items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2011) and coded with an "F" to indicate a fundamental element or an "O" to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1[a], F1[b] and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. 47 Inquiry Questions 1. How does the planning-assessment cycle work at the university and what methods are used to document, organize and sustain the assessment process, improve services and programs, and achieve accreditation standards? a. How does the planning-assessment cycle work at the university? / How is the University conducting the planning assessment cycle? b. What methods are used to document, organize, and sustain the assessment processes at the institution? c. What methods are used to document, organize, and sustain the evaluation and improvement of the total range of programs and services offered at the institution? d. What methods are used to document, organize, and sustain the evaluation and improvement in achieving institutional mission, goals, and plans? e. How is the assessment process documented, organized, and sustained to evaluate and improve compliance with accreditation standards? f. How are academic programs, services, and initiatives integrated to serve the UPRM mission? g. How are program, services, and initiatives integrated to serve the unit-level goals? h. What qualitative and/or quantitative measures are used in the assessment process? i. How is assessment data perceived with respect to quality for effective decision making? Sources of Data ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Elements OIIP F1, F1[a], F1[b] OMCA Chancellor Budget office Deans/Associate Deans Department Directors/Associate Directors Office Directors Faculty and department assessment committee; Assessment coordinators Faculty members Staff Institutional Planning Committee Questionnaires and Documents Campus Website Documents Interviews and Questionnaires 48 Inquiry Questions 2. Strategic Planning: a. What process was followed in the creation of the strategic plan? b. Who participated in the development and implementation of the strategic plan? How was the institutional community involved in the creation and implementation of the strategic plan? c. What is the current status of the strategic plan? d. How accessible is the strategic plan of UPRM? e. How is the strategic plan disseminated/shared amongst UPRM’s constituents (students/faculty/staff /advisory board/central administration/local community)? f. How were assessment results used/integrated/considered for institutional planning? g. How are assessment results used in resource allocation and institutional renewal? h. How are assessment results used to improve services and processes, including activities specific to the institution’s mission (including research)? 3. Institutional, Faculty and Departmental goals: a. How often are Institutional/Faculty/Departmental goals revised? b. How are these goals integrated into the institutional mission? c. Who is involved in the process? d. Based on past program accreditations with recommendations for improvement, what actions have been taken? What assessment documents are prepared for other accrediting or regulatory agencies? Sources of Data Elements F2, F3, O8, O9 • • • • • Documents Interviews and Questionnaires OIIP OMCA Academic Senate Administrative Board Deans Department chairs Assessment Coordinators Planning Committee Office Directors (Finance, admissions, registrar, CTI) Faculty Students Alumni and Employers Staff Campus Website • • • • • • • • • • Documents OIIP OMCA Chancellor Deans Department heads Faculty Students Planning Committee Assessment Coordinators F1, F1[a], F1[c], O6 • • • • • • • • • • • 49 Inquiry Questions Sources of Data Elements (ABET, AASCB, ADOF (NCATE), Medical Services, Systems information, National Accrediting League for Nursing (NLNAC), Chemistry (ACS), TeacherPreparation Program (NCATE), Library, Orientation and Counseling. 50 Inquiry Questions Sources of Data 4. System strategies to achieve goals: a. How are assessment results used in the enhancement of services and programs? b. How easy is it to find assessment results? c. How is information about assessment made available to UPRM constituents? d. How are institutional assessment results disseminated/shared amongst UPRM’s constituents (students/faculty/staff /advisory board/central administration/local community)? e. What are the criteria used for determining whether key institutional goals and objectives have been achieved? f. How are assessment measures used to evaluate system achievement of goals? g. Are there minimal indicators for achievement of system goals (i.e. minimal acceptable performance targets, benchmarks, and metrics)? h. How does each program and service at UPRM contribute toward achieving the goals? • • • • • • • 5. Institutional Assessment a. How reliable and valid are assessment results? b. What measures are used for institutional assessment? c. How do faculty support and collaborate in assessment activities related to student learning? d. How does the administration support and collaborate in assessing student learning? • • • • • • • • • • • • • OIIP OMCA Questionnaire Chancellor Deans Department heads Strategic plan committees Assessment Committees/ Assessment Coordinators Faculty Staff Students Central Administration Local Community Campus Website Documents Operational Plan for Strategic Plan OIIP OMCA Chancellor Deans Department chairs Elements F2 O3, O4 F1[b], F1[c] 51 Inquiry Questions e. How does the administration respond to assessment results? f. How are institutional resources used to support assessment activities? What administrative, technical, and financial support systems exist for institutional assessment activities? g. How are institutional resources used to support UPRM’s mission? h. How clear and realistic are assessment procedures/policies? i. What are the deadlines for assessment activities? Do assessment activities have clear and realistic timetables and deadlines? j. Who maintains ownership of institutional assessment? How is the institutional plan perceived with respect to detail of the plans, simplicity, practicality and sustainability? k. What is the role of UPR-Central Administration in the assessment process? What factors influence changes in assessment policies and processes, and strategic planning? l. What professional development opportunities and resources are provided to faculty and staff in the area of institutional assessment? m. How are institutional assessment findings used to: i. improve teaching and learning processes? ii. review and improve programs and services? iii. plan, conduct, and support professional development activities? iv. assist in planning and budgeting for the provision of programs and services? v. support decisions about strategic goals, plans, and resource allocation? vi. inform appropriate constituents about the institution and its programs? Sources of Data • • • • • • • • Strategic plan committees Assessment Coordinators Professor Contracts Faculty Students CEP (Center for Professional Enhancement) Office Directors Documents Elements F1[c], F1[d], F1[e], F2, O2[c,d], O7 52 Inquiry Questions 6. Institutional culture for assessing institutional effectiveness. a. What are the views of faculty and administrators on assessment? b. What are faculty and administrators roles in assessing institutional effectiveness? c. What campus-wide efforts to encourage, recognize, and value the effectiveness of institutional assessment to improve programs and services? d. How are assessment results used to improve student learning and to advance the institution? e. How often are the institution’s assessment processes evaluated to determine their effectiveness and comprehensiveness? Sources of Data • • • • • • • • • OIIP Chancellor Administrative Board Deans Department chairs Strategic plan committees Assessment Coordinators Faculty Students Elements O1[a], O1[b], O1[c], F1, F2, F1[f] 53 Educational Effectiveness Standard 8 Student Admissions and Retention The institution seeks to admit students whose interests, goals, and abilities are congruent with its mission, and seeks to retain them through the pursuit of the students’ educational goals. Tasks Force Members: Sonia M. Bartolomei-Suárez, Ph.D., Professor of the Department of Industrial Engineering (Coordinator); Madeline Rodríguez, M.A.E., Director of the Admission Office; María Barbot, M.A., Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the College of Arts and Science; Manuel Jimenez, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the College of Engineering; Lizzette González, Ph.D., Interim Assistant Dean of the College of Agricultural Science; Lucyann Fernández, M.S., Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the College of Business Administration, Freya Toledo, M.S.I.E., Professor of the General Engineering Department and Coordinator of the UPRM Open House; María Almodóvar, Ph.D., Professional Counselor, Raúl Macchiavelli, Ph.D., Director of Graduate Studies; and one student to be invited from the General Student Council. Purpose: The purpose of the Student Admissions and Retention Task Team is to examine if the university’s admissions and retention policies, procedures, and practices are clearly stated, fully understood, widely communicated, consistently implemented, and periodically reviewed. Also, the task team is going to establish the extent to which these policies, procedures, and practices are consistent with, and contribute to the realization of, the university’s mission, goals, and objectives as part of an overall enrollment strategy. Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2011) and coded with an "F" to indicate a fundamental element or an "O" to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1[a], F1[b] and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. 54 Inquiry Questions 1. a) b) c) d) Undergraduate Admissions Policies What are the current undergraduate admissions policies? How are they developed? How are they implemented? Do they support and reflect the mission of UPRM? Provide evidence. 2. a) b) c) d) Graduate Admissions Policies What are the current graduate admissions policies? How are developed? How are they implemented? Do they support and reflect the mission of UPRM? Provide evidence. 3. Prospective Undergraduate Students a) Are admissions policies and criteria available to assist the prospective undergraduate students in making informed decisions? b) How are prospective undergraduate students informed about the academic program offerings? Sources of Data Administrative Board Dean of Academic Affairs Director of the Office of Admissions University mission statement and goals Mission statement and goals for individual programs Chair of the Academic Departments Elements F1 Dean of Academic Affairs Academic Senate (Cert. 09-09) Director of Office of Graduate Studies University mission statement and goals Mission statement and goals for individual programs Chair of the Academic Departments F1 Dean of Academic Affairs Director of the Office of Admissions Dean of Students Undergraduate Catalog UPRM Web-page F2 F4 55 Inquiry Questions c) Which type of entrance, placement or other special testing is required for prospective undergraduate students? What do these results determine? d) How are expected student learning outcomes and information on institution-wide assessment results, as appropriate to the program offered, available to prospective undergraduate students? e) Does the university provide accurate and comprehensive information, and advice where appropriate, regarding financial aid, scholarships, grants, loans, and refunds? Sources of Data UPR Web-page Undergraduate Application Manual Orientation material Director of Financial Aid OIIP – Student Right to Know Elements F4 F5 Provide evidence. F6 4. Prospective Graduate Students a) Are admissions policies and criteria available to assist the prospective graduate students in making informed decisions? b) Are prospective graduate students informed about the academic program offerings? c) What type of entrance, placement or other special testing is required for prospective graduate students? What do these results determine? Dean of Academic Affairs Director of the Office of Graduate Studies Dean of Students Graduate Catalog UPRM Web-page Graduate Application Information Orientation material F2 F4 F4 56 Inquiry Questions d) How are expected student learning outcomes and information on institution-wide assessment results, as appropriate to the program offered, available to prospective graduate students? e) Does the university provide accurate and comprehensive information, and advice where appropriate, regarding financial aid, scholarships, teaching and research assistantships, grants, loans, and refunds? Provide evidence. Sources of Data Director of Financial Aid Chair of the Academic Departments Graduate Programs Coordinators OIIP Academic Senate (Cert. 09-09) Elements F5 Board of Trustees F6 5. Transfer of credit a) How does the university publish and implement policies and procedures regarding transfer of credit? b) How does the university publish and implement policies and procedures regarding credit for extra-institutional college level learning? Provide evidence. 6. Assessment of Student Success a) How does the university assess student success? b) How does the university assess student retention? Academic Senate Dean of the Academic Affairs Director of the Office of Admissions Chairs of the Academic Departments Registrar Undergraduate catalog University Web-page F7 Dean of Academic Affairs Director of the Office of Admissions F8 57 Inquiry Questions c) To what extent does assessment match the attributes of the admitted students and the institution’s mission and programs? d) Does the assessment data reflect its findings in its admissions, remediation, and other related policies? Provide evidence. 7. Expected Learning Goals a) Does the university provide programs and services to ensure that admitted students, who marginally meet or do not meet the institution’s qualifications, achieve expected learning goals and higher education outcomes at appropriate points? Provide evidence. Sources of Data Elements Dean of Academic Affairs Director of the Office of Admissions Dean of Students Director of the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services Chairs of the Academic Departments Academic Counselors F3 Dean of Students Office of Institutional Research and Planning Chairs of the Academic Departments University mission statement and goals Mission statement and goals for individual programs 58 STANDARD 9-Student Support Services The institution provides student support services reasonably necessary to enable each student to achieve the institution’s goals for students. Task Force Members: Omell Pagán Parés, Industrial Engineering (Coordinator); Rosie Torres de Calderón, (Health Services); Manuel E. Márquez (CGE); Yolanda Pérez (Academic Advising); Maricarmen Brito (Alumni); Jorge I. Frontera Rodríguez (Library); Xiomara Pratts Peña (Quality of Life); Margarita Carlo (Placements); Santos Torres (Band and Orchestra); Briseida Meléndez (Registrar); Yamil Negrón (Financial Aid); Agnes Irizarry (Professional Counseling); Fernando Gaztambide (Athletics Activities and Intramural Athletic Program );Yomarachaliff Luciano (Social and Cultural Activities) Purpose: The purpose of the student support services task force is to examine if the student support services at the University of Puerto RicoMayagüez Campus are: (1) complying with their purpose of the enrichment of student’s quality of life beyond the classroom; (2) contributing to student development, educational process and learning outcomes; and (3) congruent with the university’s mission, goals, and objectives. Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (Twelfth Edition) and coded with an “F” to indicate a fundamental element or an “O” to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1 [a], F1 [b] and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. 59 Inquiry Questions 1. Overview of student support services: a. Which programs constitute student support services at the university? b. What evidence exists that the mission and objectives of the support programs are aligned with the institutional mission and objective statements? c. What evidence exists that the programs are consistent with student learning expectations? d. What evidence exists that the programs are appropriate to meeting the students’ personal, academic, and social strengths and needs? e. How effective are these programs in meeting these diverse students’ strengths and needs? Provide evidence. f. What evidence exists that the programs are readily available regardless of place or method of delivery? g. What evidence exists that the support services are frequently reviewed, assessed and analyzed to their availability and distinctions among physical sites or modes of delivery and the particular support services those sites/modes require? h. How do support service units review and analyze their printed and electronic materials that provide information concerning the explanation and availability of their services for students? i. How often does this review occur? j. In what ways are these services integrated and congruent with each other? k. What evidence exists that resource allocation is adequate in order to meet the student support services? Sources of Data • • • Governing Documents Organization Chart Units providing support services: o Dean of Students o Social and Cultural Activities o Registrar o Placement- Career Office o Library o Medical Services o Teaching/Learning Center o Financial Aid o Athletics Activities o Counseling and Psychological Services o Academic Counseling o Students’ Ombudsperson o Computer Center (CTI) o Student Exchange & International Services o Band and Orchestra o Transit and Surveillance o Child Care Network • Mission and objectives of the above units Institutional mission and objectives, and value statements Unit printed or electronic material • • Elements F1,F2,O1,O2,O3 60 Inquiry Questions 2. Student Support Service personnel: a) What evidence shows that support service programs are administered, supervised, and conducted by qualified professionals? b) How effective is the personnel in fulfilling their responsibilities? 3. Student Support Services procedures: a) What evidence exists that procedures are in places, which address the diverse student population in their academic and other needs? b) What evidence exists that these procedures are conducted in an equitable, supportive, and sensitive manner? Are those services dealt with directly or by referral? c) How are these procedures communicated to the students? Provide evidence. Sources of Data • • • • • • Student Surveys General Student Council (CGE) Student Focus Groups Senior Exit Interviews Unit Services Unit Assessment Unit Responses • Unit Services descriptions and job descriptions Unit printed announcements Self/Peer evaluations Chair/Dean/Directors evaluations Student surveys Personnel credentials- resumes Personnel training sessions Unit printed or electronic announcement Internal Unit Surveys Established procedures per unit Printed and online procedures available • • • • • • • • • • Elements F2, O2 F3,O2 61 Inquiry Questions Sources of Data 4. Advisement procedures and policies: a) What evidence exists that all support programs provide appropriate advisement procedures and policies? b) How are these advisement procedures and policies delineated and disseminated to students? Provide evidence. c) How are students advised and mentored in their major academic programs? Provide evidence. d) How effective are these advisement and mentoring procedures and policies? 5. Student complaints: a) What evidence shows that procedures are in place for addressing student complaints or grievances? b) What evidence shows that these procedures are coordinated, reasonable and equitable? c) How are these procedures published and disseminated? d) What evidence shows that accurate and complete records are kept of student complaints or grievances? e) How often are these records reviewed to determine where noteworthy patterns exist? • • Unit printed or electronic announcements Student Handbook Student surveys Deans and directors Students’ Ombudsperson Office Procedures Governing Documents 6. Student Records a) What evidence shows that policies and procedures are in place for the safety and security of student records? b) How are these policies and procedures concerning the release of student information published and disseminated? c) What evidence shows that implementation concerning the release of student information is according to policies? d) What evidence shows that appropriate access is available to those who need such data while simultaneously preserving student privacy? e) What evidence shows that academic records are processed in a timely and accurate manner? • • • • • Governing Documents Student Handbook Unit policies Registrar response Student survey • • • • • • • • • • Unit printed or electronic announcements Unit evaluation Student surveys Deans and directors Faculty reports Academic Advisor Reports Elements F4,O6 F6, F7,O4 F8, F9 62 Inquiry Questions 7. Sport programs, Intercollegiate: a) What evidence exists that the athletic programs are regulated by the same academic administrative principles and procedures that govern other institutional programs? b) In what ways are the LAI standards for minimum expectations of student athletes monitored, enforced, and systematically reviewed? c) In what ways are these expectations made known to student athletes? 8. Sport Programs, Intramural: a) What evidence exists that the institution offers a varied program of intramural competition for all students based on their interests/needs? b) In what ways are program activities communicated to all students? c) What evidence exists that resource allocations (facilities, equipment) are adequate to student needs? 9. Assessment: a) In what ways do the support service units conduct ongoing assessment? b) How often does this assessment take place? c) In what ways have the results of the assessment data analysis been used to improve the varied support services for students? Sources of Data • • • • • • • • • • Governing Documents Interview- Director of Athletic Activities LAI regulations NCAA regulations Student surveys Interview- Director of Athletic Activities Student surveys Unit printed or electronic announcements Elements F5, O1, O3 F5, O1, O2 Unit assessment procedures Unit responses F10 63 STANDARD 9-Student Support Services The institution provides student support services reasonably necessary to enable each student to achieve the institution’s goals for students. Task Force Members: Omell Pagán Parés, Industrial Engineering (Coordinator); Rosie Torres de Calderón, (Health Services); Manuel E. Márquez (CGE); Yolanda Pérez (Academic Advising); Maricarmen Brito (Alumni); Jorge I. Frontera Rodríguez (Library); Thyrzia Roura Cordero (Quality of Life); Margarita Carlo (Placements); Santos Torres (Band and Orchestra); Briseida Meléndez (Registrar); Luis Galarza (Financial Aid); Agnes Irizarry (Professional Counseling); Fernando Gaztambide (Athletics Activities and Intramural Athletic Program );Yomarachaliff Luciano (Social and Cultural Activities) Purpose: The purpose of the student support services task force is to examine if the student support services at the University of Puerto RicoMayagüez Campus are: (1) complying with their purpose of the enrichment of student’s quality of life beyond the classroom; (2) contributing to student development, educational process and learning outcomes; and (3) congruent with the university’s mission, goals, and objectives. Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (Twelfth Edition) and coded with an “F” to indicate a fundamental element or an “O” to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1 [a], F1 [b] and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. 59 Inquiry Questions 1. Overview of student support services: a. Which programs constitute student support services at the university? b. What evidence exists that the mission and objectives of the support programs are aligned with the institutional mission and objective statements? c. What evidence exists that the programs are consistent with student learning expectations? d. What evidence exists that the programs are appropriate to meeting the students’ personal, academic, and social strengths and needs? e. How effective are these programs in meeting these diverse students’ strengths and needs? Provide evidence. f. What evidence exists that the programs are readily available regardless of place or method of delivery? g. What evidence exists that the support services are frequently reviewed, assessed and analyzed to their availability and distinctions among physical sites or modes of delivery and the particular support services those sites/modes require? h. How do support service units review and analyze their printed and electronic materials that provide information concerning the explanation and availability of their services for students? i. How often does this review occur? j. In what ways are these services integrated and congruent with each other? k. What evidence exists that resource allocation is adequate in order to meet the student support services? Sources of Data • • • Governing Documents Organization Chart Units providing support services: o Dean of Students o Social and Cultural Activities o Registrar o Placement- Career Office o Library o Medical Services o Teaching/Learning Center o Financial Aid o Athletics Activities o Counseling and Psychological Services o Academic Counseling o Students’ Ombudsperson o Computer Center (CTI) o Student Exchange & International Services o Band and Orchestra o Transit and Surveillance o Child Care Network • Mission and objectives of the above units Institutional mission and objectives, and value statements Unit printed or electronic material • • Elements F1,F2,O1,O2,O3 60 Inquiry Questions 2. Student Support Service personnel: a) What evidence shows that support service programs are administered, supervised, and conducted by qualified professionals? b) How effective is the personnel in fulfilling their responsibilities? 3. Student Support Services procedures: a) What evidence exists that procedures are in places, which address the diverse student population in their academic and other needs? b) What evidence exists that these procedures are conducted in an equitable, supportive, and sensitive manner? Are those services dealt with directly or by referral? c) How are these procedures communicated to the students? Provide evidence. Sources of Data • • • • • • Student Surveys General Student Council (CGE) Student Focus Groups Senior Exit Interviews Unit Services Unit Assessment Unit Responses • Unit Services descriptions and job descriptions Unit printed announcements Self/Peer evaluations Chair/Dean/Directors evaluations Student surveys Personnel credentials- resumes Personnel training sessions Unit printed or electronic announcement Internal Unit Surveys Established procedures per unit Printed and online procedures available • • • • • • • • • • Elements F2, O2 F3,O2 61 Inquiry Questions Sources of Data 4. Advisement procedures and policies: a) What evidence exists that all support programs provide appropriate advisement procedures and policies? b) How are these advisement procedures and policies delineated and disseminated to students? Provide evidence. c) How are students advised and mentored in their major academic programs? Provide evidence. d) How effective are these advisement and mentoring procedures and policies? 5. Student complaints: a) What evidence shows that procedures are in place for addressing student complaints or grievances? b) What evidence shows that these procedures are coordinated, reasonable and equitable? c) How are these procedures published and disseminated? d) What evidence shows that accurate and complete records are kept of student complaints or grievances? e) How often are these records reviewed to determine where noteworthy patterns exist? • • Unit printed or electronic announcements Student Handbook Student surveys Deans and directors Students’ Ombudsperson Office Procedures Governing Documents 6. Student Records a) What evidence shows that policies and procedures are in place for the safety and security of student records? b) How are these policies and procedures concerning the release of student information published and disseminated? c) What evidence shows that implementation concerning the release of student information is according to policies? d) What evidence shows that appropriate access is available to those who need such data while simultaneously preserving student privacy? e) What evidence shows that academic records are processed in a timely and accurate manner? • • • • • Governing Documents Student Handbook Unit policies Registrar response Student survey • • • • • • • • • • Unit printed or electronic announcements Unit evaluation Student surveys Deans and directors Faculty reports Academic Advisor Reports Elements F4,O6 F6, F7,O4 F8, F9 62 Inquiry Questions 7. Sport programs, Intercollegiate: a) What evidence exists that the athletic programs are regulated by the same academic administrative principles and procedures that govern other institutional programs? b) In what ways are the LAI standards for minimum expectations of student athletes monitored, enforced, and systematically reviewed? c) In what ways are these expectations made known to student athletes? 8. Sport Programs, Intramural: a) What evidence exists that the institution offers a varied program of intramural competition for all students based on their interests/needs? b) In what ways are program activities communicated to all students? c) What evidence exists that resource allocations (facilities, equipment) are adequate to student needs? 9. Assessment: a) In what ways do the support service units conduct ongoing assessment? b) How often does this assessment take place? c) In what ways have the results of the assessment data analysis been used to improve the varied support services for students? Sources of Data • • • • • • • • • • Governing Documents Interview- Director of Athletic Activities LAI regulations NCAA regulations Student surveys Interview- Director of Athletic Activities Student surveys Unit printed or electronic announcements Elements F5, O1, O3 F5, O1, O2 Unit assessment procedures Unit responses F10 63 TASK FORCE VII – STANDARD 10 Faculty The institution’s instructional, research, and service programs are devised, developed, monitored, and supported by qualified professionals. Task Force Members: Gayle W. Griggs, Associate Professor, English (Coordinator); Maribel Acosta Lugo, Associate Professor, Hispanic Studies; Enid Arcelay, Assistant Professor, Agriculture; Lysa Chizmadia, Associate Professor, Geology; Aury Curbelo Ruiz, Professor, Business Administration; Saylisse Dávila, Assistant Professor, Industrial Engineering; Carlos Quiñones Padovani, Assistant Professor, Physical Education; Jordan McGee, Student, Agriculture. Purpose: The purpose of the Faculty Team is to determine if the institution’s instructional, research, and service programs are devised, developed, monitored, and supported by qualified professionals. The task force will present a document analysis of these areas and provide recommendations for improvement. Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2006) and coded with an "F" to indicate a fundamental element or an "O" to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1[a], F1[b] and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. Inquiry Questions 1. How effectively does UPRM communicate to the faculty its missions and goals as well as expectations regarding teaching, research, advising, and service for all levels of instructional personnel? Sources of Data Elements • Reglamento General • Professor’s Manual • UPRM Catalogue (Undergraduate and Graduate) • Faculty Survey • Strategic Plan 2012-2022 • Faculty Deans and Department Directors • Department, Administrative, & Institutional Websites F1, F4, F6, F7, F8 64 Inquiry Questions 2a. To what extent are the academic programs staffed by prepared and qualified instructors, with roles, responsibilities, and criteria clearly defined, and sufficiently numerous to fulfill those roles appropriately? 2b. What criteria and procedures exist for reviewing all individuals who have responsibility for the educational program of the institution. 2c. To what extent are the criteria and procedures carefully articulated, equitable, and implemented? 3. How are educational curricula designed, maintained, and updated by faculty and other professionals who are academically prepared and qualified? 4a. How do faculty and other professionals, including teaching assistants, demonstrate excellence in teaching and other activities, and continued professional growth? 4b. What appropriate linkages are recognized among scholarship, teaching, student learning, research, and service? Sources of Data • Institutional Review Board • Docent Programs (Programas Docentes) • All relevant certifications • Curriculum Vitae • Reglamento General de la UPR • Professor’s Manual • Faculty Survey • Faculty Deans and Department Directors • Office of Human Resources • • • • Reglamento General de la UPR All relevant certifications Curricula & Course Syllabi Department and Faculty Curriculum Committee Reports • Faculty Survey • Student Evaluations (COE) • Student Survey • Faculty Deans and Directors • Faculty Personnel Committees • Faculty awards and recognitions • OIIP • Reglamento General de la UPR • Undergraduate/Graduate Student Satisfaction surveys • Professional Enrichment Center (CEP) Elements F1, F2, F3, F7, O3, O7, O8 F2, F9 F3, F5, O2 65 Inquiry Questions 5. What processes exist for ensuring that the instructional personnel are accountable for providing quality educational experiences for students? 6a. How are standards and procedures for all faculty and other professionals published and implemented for actions such as appointment, promotion, tenure, grievance, discipline, and dismissal? 6b. To what extent are these processes based on the principles of fairness with due regard for the rights of all faculty and other professionals? 6c. What evidence is there that the criteria for the appointment, supervision, and review of teaching effectiveness for part-time, adjunct, and other faculty are consistent with those for full time-faculty? 7. How does UPRM provide appropriate institutional support for the advancement and development of faculty, including teaching, research, scholarship, and service? Sources of Data • Student Evaluations (COE) • Faculty Deans and Directors • All relevant certifications • Reglamento General de la UPR (Art. 35) • Relevant Policies and Procedures • Professor’s Manual • Faculty Survey • Faculty Deans and Directors • Student Ombudsperson • Institutional Appeals Committee • Research & Development Center (CID) • Professional Enrichment Center (CEP) • Conference travel and publications data • Faculty Survey • Faculty Deans and Directors • Institutional Review Board Elements F2, F5, O2, O3, O4, O5, O8 F6, F7, F8, O3, O6, O9 F3, F4, F5 66 Inquiry Questions Sources of Data 8. How are the procedures and criteria for reviewing all individuals who have responsibility for the educational program of the institution published and implemented? • 8a. To what extent are the procedures and criteria for reviewing these individuals carefully articulated, equitable, and implemented? • • • • • • • • • 9. How does UPRM adhere to the principles of academic freedom, within the context of institutional mission? • Certifications & Institutional Policies (Junta) Reglamento General de la UPR OIIP Faculty Reports Personnel Committees Office of Human Resources Faculty Surveys Reglamento General de la UPR Professor’s Manual Dialog Committee Faculty Survey Grievance Process Elements F1, F6, F7, F8, F10, O3, O4, O5, O9 F9, O9 67 Standard 11- Educational Offerings The institution’s educational offerings display academic content, rigor, and coherence that are appropriate to its higher education mission. The institution identifies student learning goals and objectives, including knowledge and skills, for its educational offerings. Teaching and learning are the primary purposes of any institution of higher education, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level. Task Force Members: Jorge A. Gonzalez, J.D., Ph.D., Professor of Agricultural Economics, Francisco Monroig Saltar, Ph.D., Professor, Agricultural Sciences, Rosario Ortiz Rodríguez, Ph.D. Business Administration Professor, Jeffrey Valentín Mari, Ph.D. Economics Professor, Raul Zapata, Ph.D. Civil Engineering Professor, Irene Ocasio, Adminstrative Official 1- Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs. Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2011) and coded with an “F” to indicate a fundamental element or an “O” to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1[a], F1[b] and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment among inquiry questions and standards. 68 Inquiry Questions 1. How are the educational offerings congruent with the UPRM mission, which include appropriate areas of academic study of sufficient content, regarding the programs offered? Sources of Data Deans Department Chairs Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs (certifications) F1 4. How are the formal undergraduate, graduate, or professional programs, leading to a degree or other recognized higher education credential, designed to foster a coherent student learning experience? Deans Department Chairs Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs (Senate and Board certifications) F2 6. How are the UPRM program goals stated in terms of student learning outcomes? Deans Department Chairs Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs F3 2. How are the educational offerings congruent with the UPRM mission, which include appropriate areas of academic study of sufficient breadth and length, regarding the programs offered? 3. How are the educational offerings congruent with the UPRM mission, which include appropriate areas of academic study of sufficient levels of rigor, regarding the programs offered? 5. How are the formal undergraduate, graduate, or professional programs, leading to a degree or other recognized higher education credential, promote synthesis of learning? Elements 69 Inquiry Questions 7. Is there periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of any curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular experiences that the institution provides its students? Provide evidence. 8. Are the periodic evaluation results utilized as a basis for improving student understanding of their own program? Provide evidence. 9. To what extent are the periodic evaluation results utilized for enabling students to understand their own educational progress? Provide evidence. 10. How are the learning resources, facilities, instructional equipment, library services, and professional library staff adequate to support the institution’s educational programs? 11. Is there collaboration among professional library staff, faculty, and administrators in fostering information literacy and technological competency skills across the curriculum? Provide evidence. Sources of Data Deans Department Chairs F4 Deans Department Chairs Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs Professors Library staff Computer Center (CTI) Deans Department Chairs Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs Professors Library staff Computer Center (CTI) F5 Elements Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs F6 70 Inquiry Questions 12. How do academic programs promote student use of a variety of information and learning resources? 13. How does the institution take provision of comparable quality of teaching/instruction, academic rigor, and educational effectiveness of the institution’s courses and programs regardless of the location or delivery mode? 14. Where are the published and implemented policies and procedures regarding transfer credit that describe the criteria established by the institution regarding the transfer of credits earned at another institution? Sources of Data Deans Department Chairs Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs Professors Library staff Computer Center (CTI) Department Chairs Certifications (Senate) Professors Certifications Department Chairs Academic Affairs Registrar Office F7 Elements F8 F9 15. Is there consideration of transfer credit or recognition of degrees that is not determined exclusively on the basis of the accreditation of the sending institution of the mode of delivery but, rather, considers course equivalencies and expected learning outcomes with those of the receiving institution’s curricula and standards? Provide evidence. 16. How is the criteria, regarding transfer credit, fair, consistently applied, and publicly communicated? 17. How do the course syllabi incorporate expected learning outcomes? Deans Department Chairs Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs Certifications F 12 71 Inquiry Questions 18. Is the assessment of student learning and program outcomes, relative to the objectives of the undergraduate programs, and are the results used to improve student learning and program effectiveness? Provide evidence. 19. How does the graduate curricula provide for the development of research and independent thinking that the studies at the advanced level presuppose? 20. Do the graduate faculty members comply with credentials appropriate to the graduate curricula? Provide evidence. 21. Is the assessment of student learning and program outcomes relative to the objectives of the graduate programs and the results used to improve student learning and program effectiveness? Provide evidence. Sources of Data Deans Department Chairs Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs Deans Department Chairs Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs Graduate School Deans Department Chairs Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs Graduate School Curriculum Vitae Deans Department Chairs Academic Coordinators Academic Affairs Graduate School F 13 Elements F 14 F 15 F 16 72 STANDARD 12- General Education Task Force Members: Mabel Ortiz , MA, (Coordinator), Department of English; Duane Kolterman, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biology; Jeannette Santos, Ph.D., Professor, General Engineering, Noemí Maldonado, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Humanities, Ms. Mariela Ballester, student, Department of Social Sciences, Mr. Ricardo Méndez, student, Department of Geology. Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2011) and coded with an “F” to indicate a fundamental element or an “O” to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1[a], F1[b] and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment among inquiry questions and standards. Inquiry Questions 1. How many semester hours does each of your GE programs include? a. List the courses which constitute your GE component. b. List the activities that are part of your GE requirements. c. Besides course work, which other life experiences and activities does your GE program include? • • • Sources of Data Deans of Academic Colleges Department Directors Unit Coordinators F-1 O-7 Elements 73 Inquiry Questions 2. Which skills and abilities developed through GE courses are further developed in the major or concentration? a. How does your unit integrate GE courses with experiences such as Senior Seminars, interdisciplinary courses, exchanges, summer programs? b. Which skills and abilities acquired through GE courses need further strengthening? 3. How are UPRM’s statements of institutional mission, goals, and objectives linked to the core knowledge or general skills of its students? a. How does the UPRM GE program teach values? b. How does the UPRM GE program teach ethics? c. How is the UPRM GE program consistent with the study of diverse perspectives? d. How does the UPRM GE program teach social responsibility? Sources of Data • • • • Deans of Academic Colleges Department Directors Unit Coordinators Instructional Personnel F-2 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-7 • • • • • • Deans of Academic Affairs Deans of Academic Colleges Department Directors Unit Coordinators Dean of Students Instructional Personnel F-3 F-2 O-2 O-4 O-7 Elements 74 4. a. b. c. d. e. f. 5. Inquiry Questions How does your GE program assure that, upon degree completion, students achieve competency in the following areas: Oral communication Written communication Scientific reasoning Quantitative reasoning Critical analysis and reasoning Technological competencies Are GE requirements clearly and accurately described in official UPRM publications? a. Where are these publications located? b. How are these publications shared with students, advisors, faculty, and other constituencies? c. Which publications list your GE student learning outcomes? 6. How are GE outcomes assessed in your faculty, department or unit within the institution’s overall plan for assessing student learning? a. How frequently are GE assessments conducted? b. What GE assessment evidence does your unit hold? c. How are assessment results utilized? Sources of Data • • • • • • Dean of Academic Affairs Deans of Academic Colleges Dean of Students Department Directors Unit Coordinators Instructional Personnel F-4 F-1 F-2 O-4 O-5 O-7 • • • • Dean of Academic Affairs Deans of Academic Colleges Department Directors Program Coordinators • • • • • • • • IPEDS Strategic Plans Certifications UPRM GE Assessment Plan Dean of Academic Affairs Deans of Academic Colleges Department Directors Unit Coordinators F-5 F-1 F-2 F-3 F-4 O-4 O-5 O-6 F-6 F-3 F-4 O-3 O-4 O-6 O-7 Elements 75 STANDARD 13- Related Educational Activities The institution’s program or activities that are characterized by particular content, focus, location, mode of delivery, or sponsorship meet appropriate standards. Task Force Members: Pedro Vásquez Urbano, Mathematical Science (Coordinator); José Ferrer López, (DECEP); José Cuevas (CTI), Kevin Carroll (English), Ellen Acaron (COOP Program), Jean Carlo Ortiz (ICOM Student), Víctor Martínez (Biology Student) Purpose: The purpose of the Related Educational Activities team is to evaluate and examine all Basic Skills, Certificate Programs, Experiential Learning, Non-Credit Offerings, Branch Campuses, Additional Location, and other Instructional Sites, Distance Education, Distributed Learning and Correspondence Education, and Contractual Relationships and Affiliated Providers carried out by the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) by exploring its mission statements along with its objectives. This team will review programs and courses to see if they are preparing students for success in achieving their educational goals. Also, the team will be evaluating the existence of the appropriate assessment tools in order to perform the evaluation of the student learning outcomes, and if they are designed, approved, administered and periodically evaluated in order to strengthen each program. The team will prepare a set of questions to be answered by the different offices that are in charge of the programs listed above. Next, we will study the questions submitted in order to prepare a documented analysis of all programs. Finally, we will provide recommendations to improve the actual programs. Questions Based on the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education and based on the programs offered by UPRM the following questions will be answered by the team with the support of the different offices to allow for the team to conduct its research. Element Numbering System: Items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2011) and coded with an "F" to indicate a fundamental element or an "O" to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1, F2, and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. 76 1. Basic Skills Approximately 17 years, UPRM began to offer remedial non-credit courses in Mathematics and English to help students who are accepted with deficiencies. 1. Inquiry Questions How are students who need remedial courses identified at UPRM? 2. What programs are available for students who need developmental courses? 3. What evidence supports the effectiveness of the teaching and learning centers for students with deficiencies? 4. How did UPRM decide that remedial courses do not carry academic degree credit? 5. What evidence exists that the UNIV 0066 course is effective in preparing students for college? 6. Have there been any studies at UPRM regarding the academic success for those students who have completed the Math and English remedial courses? What are the results? Sources of Data • • • • • • • • • • Chair of Math Department Chair of English Department Chair of Admissions office Dean of Academic Affairs Registrar’s Office Computer Center OIIP Orientation Office Students Senate certifications Elements F1 F2 F2 F3 F2, O3 F2 7. What evidence exists to show the procedure for referring under-prepared students into remedial courses is effective? F2, O1 8. Which policy guides UPRM in allowing students in remedial courses to register for regular courses? F3 9. What evidence is there that the Mathematics and English remedial courses are effectively preparing students for their first university course? How is the impact of remedial/development programs assessed? F2, O1, O2 77 2. Certificate Programs These include a sequential program of study that leads to a professional license or certificate rather than a degree usually given for credit. The programs and courses must follow UPRM’s development, approval, review, and assessment processes. Inquiry Questions 1. How do certificate programs comply with the UPRM’s institutional mission? 2. How do certificate programs clearly articulate program objectives and expectations of student learning? 3. How are certificate programs designed, approved, administered, and periodically evaluated under established institutional procedures? 4. How have the programs’ objectives, requirements, and curricular sequences been published? 5. How do program learning goals compare with national criteria? Sources of Data Elements F1 • • • • • • • • DECEP Dean of Academic Affairs Academic Deans OIIP Department Chairs and Program Coordinators Senate certifications Catalogs Revalidate programs F1 F1 F2 F3 6. Does UPRM have available and effective support services for certificate programs? F4, O4 7. How does UPRM provide academic oversight that assures comparability and appropriate transferability of courses taken within a certificate program? F5 8. How do you collect evidence of articulated student knowledge, skills, and competency levels? 9. What evidence supports faculty involvement in the design, delivery, and ongoing evaluation of the certificate programs? O1 O2 78 3. Experiential Learning Experience learning involves credit awarded for learning outside the university. At UPRM, all experiential learning occurs in conjunction with programs, such as, internships, co-operative education, clinical practice. Inquiry Questions 1. How does UPRM award credit for experiential learning? Sources of Data 2. What evidence exists of the level, quality, and quantity of learning? 3. Has UPRM published and implemented policies and procedures defining the methods by which prior learning can be evaluated? 4. Has UPRM published and implemented policies and procedures to evaluate the level and amount of credits available for evaluation? 5. Has UPRM published and implemented policies and procedures regarding the award of credits for prior learning? Elements F1 F1 • • • • • • • DECEP Dean of Academic Affairs Registrar’s office COOP office Department Chairs Teacher practicum supervisors Community Program Coordinator F2 F2 F3 6. How does UPRM define the acceptance of such credit based on the institution’s curricula and standards? F3 7. Has UPRM published and implemented procedures regarding the recording of evaluated prior learning by the awarding institution? F4 8. How does UPRM decide that credits awarded are appropriate to the subject and the degree context into which it is accepted? F5 9. How do knowledgeable evaluators (faculty) of experiential learning participate on the subject? F6, 06 10. Do evaluators (faculty) know the institution’s criteria for the granting of college credit? F6, 05, 07 11. How does UPRM consider the analysis of reports prepared by evaluators (faculty) for further actions? 02 79 4. Non-credit Offerings Non-credit offerings are available on-site and through distance learning and must meet standards of quality and mission that are congruent with UPRM’s other programs. The team will identify non-credit offerings and work with their directors to evaluate the program. Offerings could be internally or externally developed. It is important to evaluate those cases in which the non-credit courses are used for credit-programs at UPRM. Inquiry Questions 1. How do non-credit offerings comply with institutional mission and goals? 2. Does UPRM have articulated program or course objectives and expectations for student learning? 3. How does UPRM design, approve, administer, and periodically evaluate program or course objectives and expectations of student learning under established institutional procedures? 4. Does academic oversight assure the comparability and appropriate transferability of such courses? Sources of Data Elements F1 • • • • • • • DECEP Dean of Academic Affairs Registrar’s office Department Chairs Agricultural Extension (SEA) Food and Science Technology (CITA) Nursery Department F2 F2 F3 5. Do courses completed within a non-credit or certificate program apply to a degree program offered by UPRM? F3 6. Does UPRM have periodic assessment of the impact of non-credit programs? Provide evidence. F4 7. Does UPRM perform periodic assessment to analyze the non-credit programs ability to fulfill its mission and goals? F4, 04 80 5. Branch Campuses, Additional Locations and other Instructional Sites These include educational offerings at branch campuses, additional locations, or other instructional sites. Programs should meet standards comparable to those of other institutions. A narrative will be presented explaining UPRM’s “campuses.” 81 6. Distance Education, Distributed Learning, and Correspondence Education Distance education or distributed learning is a formal educational process in which some or all of the instruction occurs when the learner and the instructor are not in the same place at the same time. Programs delivered through the internet, television, videoconference, or other means should meet academic and learning support standards, comparable to traditional university programs. Inquiry Questions 1. How does UPRM offer courses via distance education or correspondence education offerings? 2. How do UPRM courses via distance education or correspondence education offerings meet institution-wide standards for quality of instruction, articulated expectations of students learning, academic rigor, and educational effectiveness? Sources of Data • • • • • DECEP Dean of Academic Affairs Registrar’s office Department Chairs Certifications Elements F1 F1 3. How does UPRM provide parallel on-site offerings? F1 4. Does UPRM have consistency with the offerings via distance education or correspondence education with its mission and goals? F2 5. Does UPRM consider legal and regulatory requirements? F3 6. Does the distance education or distributed learning demonstrate coherence? F4 7. How does the distance education or distributed learning consider the program learning outcomes appropriate to the rigor and breath of the degree or certificate awarded? F4 8. How is UPRM committed to continue the offerings for a period sufficient to enable admitted students to complete the degree or certificate in a publicized time frame? F5 82 Inquiry Questions 9. How does UPRM assure that the arrangements with partners or contractors do not compromise its integrity or the educational offerings? Sources of Data Elements F6 10. Does UPRM’s faculty validate any course material or technology based resources developed outside UPRM? F7 11. How does UPRM verify that students who participate in class or coursework are the same as those registered and receiving credits? F8 12. How does UPRM notify students at the time of registration or enrollment of any additional students charges associated with the verification of student identity? 13. Does UPRM have available, accessible, and adequate learning resources (such as a library or other information resources) appropriate to the offerings at a distance? F8 F9, O3 14. Do UPRM have an ongoing program of appropriate orientation, training, and support for faculty participating in electronically delivered offerings? F10 15. Does UPRM have adequate technical and physical plant facilities to support electronic offerings? F11, O7 16. Does UPRM have appropriate staff and technical assistance to support electronic offerings? F11, 01 83 Inquiry Questions Sources of Data Elements 17. Does UPRM have a periodic assessment of the impact of distance education on its resources (human, fiscal, etc.)? F12 18. Does UPRM have a periodic assessment of the impact of distance education on its mission and goals? F12 The following questions are intended to be answered according to the Distance Education Programs Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of Distance Education (Online Learning): Inquiry Questions 1. Does UPRM have an online learning appropriate to the institution´s mission and purposes? 2. Does UPRM have plans for developing, sustaining, and expanding online learning offerings that are integrated into its regular planning and evaluation processes? 3. How does UPRM incorporate online learning into the institution´s systems of governance and academic oversight? 4. How does UPRM demonstrate that curricula for the institution´s online learning offerings are coherent, cohesive, and comparable in academic rigor to programs offered in traditional instructional formats? 5. How does the institution evaluate the effectiveness of its online learning use, including the extent to which the online learning goals are achieved, and uses the results of its evaluations to enhance the attainment of the goals? 6. How does UPRM involve the faculty in the responsibility of delivering the online learning curricula and evaluating student success in achieving that the learning goals are appropriately qualified and effectively supported? 7. Does the institution provide effective student and academic services to support students enrolled in online learning offerings? 8. Does the institution provide sufficient resources to support and, if appropriate, expand its online learning offerings? 9. Does the institution assure the integrity of its online offerings? Sources of Data Elements DE1 DE2 • • • • • DECEP Dean of Academic Affairs Registrar’s office Department Chairs Certifications DE3 DE4 DE5 DE6 DE7 DE8 DE9 84 7. Contractual Relationships and Affiliated Providers UPRM has agreements with other institutions and organizations to provide educational experience such as, faculty exchanges, student recruitment, and course/program development. Our university is responsible for all activities implemented in the institution’s name, including outcomes assessment, advertising, and recruitment. Contractual relations with non-profit firms or other institutions require diligent care to protect the institution’s integrity. Inquiry Questions 1. Does UPRM have contractual relationships with other institutions or organizations to provide certain aspects of the educational experience? 2. Do the affiliated providers or institutions protect the accredited UPRM’s integrity and assure that they have appropriate oversight of and responsibility for all activities carried out in UPRM’s name? 3. Does UPRM have consistency for courses or programs offered via contractual arrangement with its mission and goals? Sources of Data • • • • • Chancellor’s office Dean of Academic Affairs Exchange’s office OIIP Department Chairs Elements F1 F1 F2, O12 4. Does UPRM realize an adequate and appropriate review and approval of work performance by the contracted party in areas such as admissions criteria, appointment of faculty, and content of courses/programs? F3 5. Does UPRM perform an evaluation of the student work and outcome assessment in the contracted institution? F3, O10 6. Does UPRM have evidence of published public information that clearly and accurately represents the contractual relationship between UPRM and the other institution? O4 85 STANDARD 14- Assessment of Student Learning Assessment of student learning demonstrates that, at graduation, or other appropriate points, the institution’s students have knowledge, skills, and competencies consistent with institutional and appropriate higher education goals. Task force Members: Bernadette M. Delgado, Professor, Social Sciences (Coordinator); Ivelisse Padilla, Professor, Chemistry; Aidsa Santiago, Assistant Professor, General Engineering; Roberto Vargas, Professor, Crop and Agro-Environmental Science; Yolanda Ruiz, Professor, Business Administration; Irmarie Cruz, Student Representative, Psychology. Purpose: To examine the process by which UPRM assesses (gathers information and evaluates) the learning outcomes of its courses and programs to demonstrate that its students have knowledge, skills, and competencies consistent with the mission and goals of the institution and the educational objectives of its programs and academic units. This will include a review of current programs and processes, the degree to which UPRM uses the assessment results to make improvements in its programs, and the benefits derived from such assessment activities. The Task Force will present a documented analysis and provide recommendations for improvement. Element Numbering System: items were numbered consecutively in the order listed in the Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2011) and coded with an "F" to indicate a fundamental element or an "O" to indicate an applicable optional analysis item. The bulleted items under the fundamental elements were designated as F1[a], F1[b] and so on. This system provided evidence of alignment between the inquiry questions and the standards. Inquiry Questions 1. How are expectations of student learning outcomes clearly articulated at all levels of the institution, faculties/schools, degrees/programs, and individual courses? How are these consonant with the institution’s mission and with the standards of higher education and of the relevant disciplines? a. What evidence is there of written statements of expectations for student learning assessment work at the institution, faculties/schools, degrees/programs, and individual courses? b. How have all academic programs clearly identified their student learning outcomes (exit-level knowledge, skills, and competencies that students must meet in order to complete the course or program successfully)? c. What evidence is there of intentional connections between learning Sources of Data Elements • Dean of Academic Affairs • Deans of Academic Colleges F1 [a], F1 [b], F1 [c] • Chairs of Academic Departments • Director Office of Graduate Studies • Director of Teacher Preparation Program • Program/Section Coordinators • Center for Professional Development (CEP) • Accreditation Self Studies O1 O2 O3 86 Inquiry Questions Sources of Data outcomes at all levels (institution, faculties/schools, degrees/programs, and courses)? d. What evidence is there of collaboration in the development of statements of expected student learning and assessment strategies? Elements (NCATE, ABET, AACSB, NLNAC, ACS) and coordinators • Relevant Certifications (such as Cert 09-07, 09-09, 07-28) • Budget Office • Dean of Academic Affairs • Deans of Academic Colleges • Chairs of Academic Departments/Programs O2 • Director of Graduate Studies O8 c. What clear and realistic guidelines and a timetable supported by appropriate investment of institutional resources are there? • Director of Teacher Preparation Program O9 d. How are assessment processes used across the institution? • Office Institutional Research e. What direct evidence of student learning is there? • Registrar f. • Center for Professional Development (CEP) e. What policies and governance structures are there to support studentlearning assessment? f. What administrative, technical, and financial supports are there for student learning assessment activities and for implementing changes resulting from assessment? g. What professional development opportunities and resources for faculty are there to learn how to assess student learning, how to improve their curricula, and how to improve their teaching? 2. How is the assessment process to evaluate and improve student learning documented, organized, and sustained? a. How is the assessment process clearly and purposefully related to the learning outcomes? b. How does the assessment process meet sufficient simplicity, practicality, detail, and ownership to be sustainable? What are the metrics? Benchmarks? Criteria for success? g. How is the quality of the assessment process sufficient that results are to be trusted and used with confidence to inform decisions? F2 [a], F2 [b], F2[c], F2 [d], F2 [e] O7 87 Inquiry Questions h. How do assessment results support and collaboration of faculty and administration in assessing student learning and responding to assessment results is evidenced? Sources of Data • Course Portfolios/Binders/Files • Grading (Rates/Stats+ Retention Rates/Graduation Rates Student/ Elements i. How is the analysis of teaching evaluations, including identifications of good practices evidenced? • j. How is the use of student-learning assessments to improve student retention evidenced? Samples of Student Work (Exams, Quizzes, Projects) • Alumni/Employer Surveys • License Exam Results/Stats • Dean of Academic Affairs F3 • Deans of Academic Colleges O3 • Chairs of Academic Departments • Director of Graduate Studies • Director Teacher Preparation Program • Office Institutional Research • Registrar • Center for Professional Development (CEP) • Advisory Boards k. How is the use of student attrition information to improve student retention evidenced? l. How often is the assessment process evaluated for effectiveness and comprehensiveness? 3. How do assessment results provide sufficient, convincing evidence that students are achieving key institutional and program learning outcomes? a. How do assessment measures demonstrate that students have achieved the stated learning outcomes at all levels? b. How do assessment measures demonstrate that actual learning outcomes of our courses, programs, and activities are consistent with the institution’s mission, and objectives? c. How are assessment results used to improve student learning and to achieve institutional and program learning outcomes? d. How is information about assessment of student learning made available to UPRM constituents? e. How are the results of the assessment of student learning disseminated and shared amongst UPRM’s constituents (students/faculty/staff /advisory board/central administration/community)? O4 O5 O6 88 Inquiry Questions f. Sources of Data Elements What are the views of faculty and administrators on assessment of student learning? g. How are faculty members’ understanding of their role in student learning assessment evidenced? 4. How are the learning assessment findings used to improve student learning, teaching, curricula, educational programs, and other instructional activities? How is student learning assessment information made available to our principal constituencies? a. How are assessment findings used to assist students in improving their learning? b. How are assessment findings used to improve teaching methodologies, curricula, and instructional activities? c. How are assessment findings used to plan, conduct, and support professional development activities? d. How are assessment findings used to assist in planning and budgeting for the provision of academic programs and services? e. How are assessment findings used to support other institutional efforts and decisions about strategic goals, plans, and resource allocation? f. How are the results of the assessment of student learning disseminated/shared amongst UPRM’s constituents (students/faculty/staff /advisory board/central administration/community)? • Dean of Academic Affairs F4 • Deans of Academic Colleges O3 • Chairs of Academic Departments O4 • • Director of Graduate Studies Director Teacher Preparation Program O6 • • Office Institutional Research Registrar • Center for Professional Development (CEP) • Dean of Academic Affairs Deans of Academic Colleges O5 g. How are campus-wide efforts to encourage, recognize, and value efforts to assess student learning and to improve curricula and teaching evidenced? 5. How are student learning assessment results used as part of institutional assessment? a. How are assessment findings used to support other institutional efforts and decisions about strategic goals, plans, and resource allocation? b. What improvements in teaching and curricula have occurred in response to assessment results? • Chairs of Academic Departments • Director of Graduate Studies F5 O4 O5 89 Inquiry Questions c. What effects do student learning assessment findings have on curricula? Sources of Data • Director of Teacher Preparation Program • • Office Institutional Research Registrar Elements 90 INVENTORY OF SUPPORT DOCUMENTS The Institutional Steering Team will refer to the following documents in addition to other documents, which may not be currently listed below to answer the charge questions and fulfill the self-study process: University Law General UPR Regulations (“Reglamento de la Universidad de Puerto Rico”) Certifications of the Academic Board Certifications of the Academic Senate Internal By- Laws of the Academic Board Internal By- Laws of the Academic Senate Financial Statements of UPRM Annual Reports (departments, colleges, institution, CID Research Center) University Catalogs, UPRM Websites Regulations governing the Student Ombudsman Descriptive Pamphlets (Brochures) of the University and Campus Information packets sent or presented to students Student Regulations (“Reglamento del Estudiante”) Student and Faculty Handbooks Master Plan for Infrastructure Development Chancellor’s Initiative: Review of UPRM Strategic Plan UPR and UPRM Mission Statements Minutes of Academic Senate Minutes of UPR Governing Board Enrollment Management Plan Technology Plan Other materials sent to students and/or to Faculty, as provided by: Dean of Students Dean of Academic Affairs Dean of Administration Admissions Office Dialogue Committee Regulations Assessment Tools & Strategies Package developed by the College of Engineering ABET’s Engineering Criteria Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) New Academic Program Proposals Past reports sent to: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Self-Study and Team Reports Periodic Review Reports Follow-up Reports 91 Puerto Rico Council of Education (CEPR) National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLN) American Chemical Society (ACS) National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE, CAEP) Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Documents Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education (2006) Designs for Excellence (12th Edition) Institutional History Annual Institutional Profile Handbook for Conducting and Hosting an Evaluation Team Self-Study: Creating a Useful Process & Report Verification of Compliance with Accreditation-Relevant Federal Regulations Assessing Student Learning and Institutional Effectiveness: Understanding Middle States Expectations TIMETABLE This schedule serves as a control instrument to ensure that the self-study will be finished on time. During Spring 2014, MSCHE will select the chair and co-chair of the visiting team. They will contact the Chancellor about their selection and schedule the dates of the visit. The visit should occur before April 15, 2016. The visit should not be held during the institution’s spring break, which is the week of March 21-25, 2016. 92 TASK MSCHE TIMELINE 2015-2016 TIME Create task forces for each standard Create timeline for committee activities Develop draft for the self-study design: Questionnaire development Begin Polish self-study design and complete questionnaire development Submit the design for the self-study Publish arrangement for Prep visit Distribute questionnaires (Gather Data) Attend Self-Study institute Questionnaire follow-up Work in Groups: Data analysis and reflection MSCHE Visit to approve Self Study Design MSCHE Evaluation Team Chair selected Data analysis and reflection Develop individual task-force Self Study Report (first draft) Committee completes final draft for task force reports Submit Task Force Report to UPRM (June 30th) Integrate Task Force Report into the Final Institutional Report Steering Committee edits report Submit document to Professional Editor Submit Institutional Self Study Report to Chancellor Submit Final Report to MSCHE Middle States Team Visit MSCHE Response Spring 2013 Summer 2013 Fall 2013 On Task YES NO √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √(Spring) Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Spring 2015 Summer 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016 Summer 2016 93 EDITORIAL STYLE AND FORMAT The UPRM-MSCHE Institutional Steering Team agreed to utilize the following outline for the individual Task Force reports. The reports will be written in Microsoft WORD using Times New Roman font Size 12: SELF-STUDY TASK FORCES REPORT OUTLINE Coversheet Table of Contents Task Force Membership I. Introduction A. Background II. A few paragraphs, which explain MSCHE comments on the issue in earlier years, if applicable, and describe the major events that might have generated major changes. B. Purpose Explain the reasons for conducting a self-study in this area. C. Scope of work The name, focus, and objectives of the task force. Methodology A. Process A few paragraphs which describe how the task force operated (timeline, major events, etc.) B. Data Sources A few paragraphs, which describe in general terms which sources of information were used by the task force and why. A detailed list will be included in Appendices. C. The Model A few paragraphs which explain the approach used by the task force in conducting their study. As a whole, we are using the Comprehensive Approach with Special Emphasis, which gave way to the creation of task forces. 94 III. IV. V. Findings A. Expectations B. Findings A section which describes in general terms what the task force actually found. C. Specific Findings A list of positive, neutral, or negative findings with graphs, charts, and tables to document each finding. This section should be analytical. It should not just include answers to the questions asked. Recommendations A. Observations B. Recommendations C. Commendations A listing and discussion of the task force’s major observations (recommendations for improvement or commendations for excellence). The recommendations should be tied/referenced to specific findings and major changes expected in the future. Focus on the four or five most important recommendations. Summary A. VI. A section which describes in general terms what the Task Force anticipated finding. Final Statement A few paragraphs which serve as a final summarizing statement. Process Recommendations A. Appendices A. B. C. D. Suggestions A few paragraphs that critique the process we followed and might be of value to the groups that will be working in years beyond 2016. Copies of the information gathering forms used in the process. Copies of any surveys/questionnaires used including complete results. A list of people interviewed and their roles. A list of documents accessed. 95 ORGANIZATION OF FINAL SELF-STUDY REPORT The UPRM-MSCHE Institutional Steering Team proposed the following the guidelines provided in the Self Study: Creating a Useful Process and Report (2nd Edition, 2012) for the final Self-Study Report to be submitted to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education’s reaccreditation visit in Spring 2016. The chapters in the final SelfStudy Report will be constituted by the fourteen standards of excellence. PROFILE OF THE EVALUATION TEAM We consider that the Chairperson and other committee members of the evaluation team who will be visiting our Institution during Spring 2016 should be highly familiar with the following characteristics: 1. 2. 3. 4. Land Grant Colleges Program offerings and enrollment size similar to ours. a. UPRM has a major College of Engineering with all of its programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET). b. UPRM offers Master’s degree programs in almost every department and Ph.D. programs in Marine Sciences, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Computer Engineering. c. Our campus enrollment is around 12,000 students, with the largest enrollment, at the undergraduate level, in the College of Engineering (approximately 37%). Spanish and English knowledge (Bilingual and Bicultural). Research emphasis balanced with a commitment to maintain a strong instructional program. 96 Related Educational Activities Assessment of Student Learning Student Admissions and Retention Student Support Services Faculty X X X X X X X X X X X X X Educational Offerings General Education X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 6. To make evident our school pride throughout the country 5. To strengthen ties with alumni and surrounding communities sponsoring their participation as partners in academic endeavors 4. To provide adequate areas for extracurricular and co‐ curricular activities which promote healthy lifestyles X 3. To encourage student participation in college student organizations x 2. To enhance effective communication and trust among various sectors of the college community Objective #6: To impact our Puerto Rican society 1. To provide excellent support and infrastructure services to our students and to the entire college community 5. To promote entrepreneurial and leadership approaches among our students throughout all fields of knowledge 4. To strengthen fundamental values such as ethics, justice, and honesty among our students 3. To promote student participation in community projects, providing opportunities for these activities within university curricula 2. To promote, to develop and to facilitate research, focused in the application and marketing of results to meet the country’s needs Objective #5: To strengthen research and competitive creative endeavors 1. To promote the use of expertise within our university community to meet both our campus’ and our country’s needs 5. To strive to identify, among existing graduate programs, highly universally ranked niches of specialized research 4. To promote and to give relevancy to Graduate Studies 3. To develop assessment mechanisms to assure efficiency in research and creative endeavors X 2. To support external funding opportunities for research and creative endeavors at our campus, while supporting efforts for securing external investigation income Objective #4: To adopt efficient and expedient administrative procedures 1. To provide support and essential resources necessary for efficient research and creative endeavors 4. Promote and encourage an attitude of service and a sense of responsibility in all units by highlighting among all personnel the relevance and impact of their particular duties on the university community 3. Guarantee that personnel are adequately trained to perform assigned duties andresponsibilities with accountability X 2. Reassert and strengthen management roles in decision‐making areas within our campus, as determined by University Regulations, thus decentralizing decision‐ making on solely local matters Objetive #3: To increase and diversify the Institution’s sources 1. Devote human and fiscal resources to automation and streamlining of critical internal processes 3. Publish external funding opportunities for scholarships and student assistantships 2. Increase income generated by UPRM, withholding it completely for its particular needs Objetive #2: To lead higher education throughout Puerto Rico by guaranteeing the best education for our students 1. Secure a budgetary allowance from the Board of Trustees that will take into consideration the strategic plans of each campus as well as student enrollment changes 4. To maintain adequate academic offerings 3. To provide an adequate and pleasing atmosphere to support teaching learning processes X 2. To support and to acknowledge those professors who are committed to teaching, to the development of new professionals, and to excellence 4. To develop an assessment plan that examines the performance‐level of internal processes as well as the effectiveness of teahing‐learning process X 1. To maintain, to update, and to strengthen our academic programs by streamlining processes to effect curricular changes and to create new courses and programs 3. To develop a system that allows to establish the relationship between the assignment of resources and the priorities stated in the Strategic Plan. Mission and Goals X Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal Institutional Resources Leadership and Governance Administration Integrity Institutional Assessment 2. To develop a system that for the opportune updating or modification of the Strategic Plan, based on the assessment results Institutional Mission MSCHE Standards of Excellence 1. To maintain and publish updated institutional metrics Objetive #1: To institutionalize a culture of strategic planning and assessment Objective #7: To strengthen school spirit, pride and identity X X 97