University of Phoenix is committed to promoting a culture of continuous quality improvement across the institution. The foundation of the University's evaluation and assessment initiative was set in the 1980s, consisting of the Academic Quality Management System (AQMS), which focused on the performance of educational support systems, and the Adult Learning Outcomes Assessment (ALOA), which focused on the measurement of student learning in both the cognitive and affective domains. Information gathered through these systems was used to progress administrative and academic processes with the goal of improving student learning.
During the 2004-2005 fiscal year, the Office of Learning Assessment was created to enhance areas of student, course and program evaluation. The Learning Assessment team evaluated the AQMS and ALOA systems for possible weaknesses and improvements. Discussions with college staff members and information management specialists uncovered a need for a more focused and extensive institutional evaluation and assessment system. From this evaluation, the Institutional Quality Improvement System evolved.
Institutional Quality Improvement System
The purpose of the Institutional Quality Improvement System is to provide the means through which data can be collected and used for continuous improvement of the University. The assessment of student learning, combined with the measurement and evaluation of other critical outcomes, provides the vehicles through which the University maintains a cycle of continuous quality improvement.
Academic Assessment Process
An in-depth evaluation of the Institutional Quality Improvement System resulted in the addition of an Academic Assessment Process to provide the framework for measuring student learning and using this information to make continuous improvements to academic programs. The Academic Assessment Process is comprised of four ongoing and iterative steps:
- Prepare annual assessment plan for academic programs.
- Prepare annual assessment result reports for academic programs.
- Implement improvements based on assessment results.
- Monitor effectiveness of implemented improvements.
The University's Academic Assessment Process includes an ongoing combination of cognitive measures, including: course embedded assignments, rubric scored assignments, portfolios and affective assessments