A-State Assessment Cycle
This calendar outlines the recurring assessment responsibilities for academic and non-academic units at Arkansas State University. It supports continuous improvement and aligns with institutional and programmatic accreditation expectations.
? Assessment Schedule by Year and Unit
| Year / College | Due | Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odd Academic Years (e.g., 2025–2026) College of Liberal Arts and Communication College of Agriculture Veterinary Medicine Neil Griffin College of Business Nursing and Health Professions Auxiliary and Extracurricular Programs |
March 15 | Program Outcomes & Methods | Adjust Assessment Outcomes & Methods based on two prior academic years of data. |
| Even Academic Years (e.g., 2026–2027) Education & Behavioral Science Engineering & Computer Science Beck College of Sciences & Mathematics University College Graduate School Cocurricular Programs |
March 15 | Program Outcomes & Methods | Adjust Assessment Outcomes & Methods based on two prior academic years of data. |
| Every Year All Colleges |
October 15 | Findings | Report Findings on student learning and program outcomes, including data and reflections on curricular effectiveness. |
| As Needed All Colleges |
As Needed | Mapping | Update Curriculum Maps as needed, prompted by curricular changes or strategies to improve learning outcomes. |
| Odd Academic Years (e.g., 2025–2026) College of Liberal Arts and Communication, College of Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Neil Griffin College of Business, Nursing and Health Professions, Auxiliary, and Extracurricular Programs |
May 15 | End of Cycle Summary | Complete the End of Cycle Summary based on two prior academic years of assessment efforts (completed by a program administrator). |
| Even Academic Years (e.g., 2026–2027) Education & Behavioral Science, Engineering & Computer Science, Beck College of Sciences & Mathematics, University College, Graduate School, and Cocurricular Programs |
May 15 | End of Cycle Summary | Complete the End of Cycle Summary based on two prior academic years of assessment efforts (completed by a program administrator). |
? Continuous Improvement Note
The adjusted assessment calendar alleviates some of the process burden of assessment while also allowing assessment leaders to focus on continuous improvement for a healthier assessment cycle. When assessment leaders are reviewing Assessment Outcomes & Methods there will be an expectation that programs leave the “monitoring phase” of assessment and move toward continuous improvement
Example: if you have held the same methods for a few years and each year the method showed similar findings, it may be time to adjust the method.