Chapter 2: Building Your Assessment Plan Prepare your Nuventive workspace for assessment reporting by entering program details, uploading documents, and defining measurable outcomes. This chapter guides you through mapping outcomes to institutional goals, creating and managing assessment methods, and documenting findings. These steps ensure your assessment process is well-organized, actionable, and aligned with university priorities. Program Information The  Program Information  tab stores essential details about your program, including accreditation status, review dates, and program codes. This page explains how to access and update this information. Video Tutorial Watch:  Program Information This short video walks you through navigating to the Program Information tab and completing the required fields. ? Steps to Access Program Information Navigate to the Program Information tab Use the  left-hand menu  in Nuventive. It should be the  second option , labeled  Program Information . Open or Create Program Information If you see a  green and white plus button , click it to create your program information record. If you see an existing record, you can  edit  it by: Clicking the  ellipsis menu  (three dots), or Double-clicking  in the white space of the record. Fields to Complete Specialized Accreditor Indicate whether your program has  specialized accreditation  or  program review  (you will have one or the other, not both). Accreditor Name Last Accreditation Date Next Anticipated Accreditation Visit Date Last Program Review  (if applicable) Next Program Review  (if applicable) Program reviews apply to programs  without specialized accreditation . Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code  and  Degree Code Use these Knowledge Base resources to find active codes: ADHE Degree Information and Approved Lists Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Graduate Council Notes  (optional) Program Status Should be set to  Active  unless the program is in phase-out. Phase-Out Details  (if applicable) Notice to Student Date Final Phase-Out Date Need Help? Contact the  Office of Accreditation and Assessment : Phone: (870) 972-2989 Location: Room 610, Dean B. Ellis Library Email:  klee@astate.edu ➡️  Next Documents The  Documents  section in Nuventive is where you can upload and organize files related to assessment and accreditation. It also serves as the archive for historical Taskstream data. You can create your own folder structure, similar to how you organize files on your computer. Video Tutorial Watch:  Documents This short video walks you through navigating the Documents section and managing files. Steps to Access and Manage Documents Navigate to the Documents menu Use the  left-hand sidebar  in Nuventive. Select  Documents  (second-to-last option). Understand the Archive Location The top of the page shows where your documents are being archived. Create and Organize Folders Add folders to build a structure that works for your program to keep documents organized. Navigate between folders using the  breadcrumb menu  at the top. Add Documents Click  Add Document  (or the green and white plus icon). Upload files from your computer. Provide a  title  and  description  if prompted. Manage Files Move items between folders. Use the  ellipsis menu  (three dots) for options like rename or delete. Best Practices Use  clear file names  that indicate the content and date. Archive  Taskstream data  here if it’s not already present. Store  supporting documentation  for assessment or accreditation purposes. Upload  final versions  of reports and evidence to avoid confusion. Check  file size and format  requirements (e.g., PDF, Word, Excel). Link documents back to your workspace in  Outcomes, Methods, and Findings  when needed. Need Help? Contact the  Office of Accreditation and Assessment : Phone: (870) 972-2989 Location: Room 610, Dean B. Ellis Library Email: klee@astate.edu ➡️  Next Defining Program Outcomes Program outcomes describe what students should know, do, or value upon completing a program. In Nuventive, outcomes form the foundation of your assessment plan and must be created before you can add methods or findings. You cannot add Methods  or  Findings until at least one Outcome has been created and saved. Video Tutorial Watch:  Defining Program Outcomes This short video explains how to create and manage program outcomes in Nuventive.   Key Features Accessing Outcomes Navigate to your program using the  selection menu . From the  left-hand menu , select  Assessment > Outcomes, Methods, and Findings . Creating an Outcome If no outcomes exist, you’ll see blank fields for  Outcome Short Name  and  Outcome Description . Click the  green and white plus button  to add a new outcome. Complete the following fields: Outcome Short Name : A brief label (e.g.,  Communication ). Outcome Description : Full text of the outcome statement. Status : Defaults to  Active  unless archiving an old outcome. Assessment Schedule : Select the academic years for assessment. Institutional requirement: All outcomes must be assessed within a four-year cycle. Outcome Type : Typically  Program-Level Outcome . Saving and Managing Outcomes Click  Save  in the top-right corner to finalize your outcome. After saving: Reorder outcomes using the  six-dot handle . Edit, copy, or delete outcomes using the  vertical ellipses (⋮)  menu. Need Help? Contact the Office of Accreditation and Assessment: Phone:  (870) 972-2989 Location:  Room 610, Dean B. Ellis Library Email: klee@astate.edu ➡️  Next Mapping Outcomes The  Mapping  feature in Nuventive allows you to align program outcomes with university learning outcomes, curriculum courses, and (if applicable) specialized accreditors. You can complete mapping in two ways: through the  Mapping menu  or within  Outcomes, Methods, and Findings . Video Tutorial Watch:  Mapping This short video walks you through both mapping options and how to align outcomes effectively. Steps to Access Mapping Navigate to Mapping In the  left-hand menu , go to  Assessment  →  Mapping . Choose a Mapping Option Under  Mapping Alignment and Options , use the dropdown menu. Options may include: University Learning Outcomes Curriculum Mapping Specialized Accreditor  (if applicable) Alternative Mapping Access Navigate to  Outcomes, Methods, and Findings . Double-click an  outcome  → go to the  Outcome Alignment  tab. View and edit: University Learning Outcomes Curriculum Map This view is more granular, focusing on a single outcome. University Learning Outcomes Mapping Align each  program outcome  to one or more  university learning outcomes  listed on the left. Use the  Contributes  option to indicate alignment. Click  Save  when finished. Curriculum Mapping Ensure all  program courses  are listed on the left. If courses are missing or incorrect: Click the  vertical ellipses  →  Assign Courses . Search and select courses from Banner. Click  Save  and  Close . Return to the curriculum map and use the  key at the top : I  = Introduced R  = Reinforced M  = Mastered A  = Assessed Apply the most accurate designation for each  course-outcome combination . Tip:  Only  A (Assessed)  should appear more than once in a category. Specialized Accreditor Mapping If your program has specialized accreditation, follow the same process as above for mapping outcomes to accreditor standards. Note:  Accurate mapping not only aligns your outcomes with institutional goals—it also powers dashboard visualizations and supports reporting tools in later stages of the assessment cycle. Need Help? Contact the  Office of Accreditation and Assessment : Phone: (870) 972-2989 Location: Room 610, Dean B. Ellis Library Email:  klee@astate.edu ➡️  Next Creating and Managing Assessment Methods Assessment methods describe how you will measure each program outcome. In Nuventive, methods ensure that your outcomes are supported by clear, measurable strategies for collecting evidence of student learning. You cannot add Methods or Findings until at least one Outcome has been created and saved. You cannot add  Findings until at least one Method has been created and saved for the Outcome . Video Tutorial Watch:  Documenting Assessment Methods This short video explains how to create and manage assessment methods in Nuventive. Key Features Accessing Methods Navigate to your program using the  selection menu . From the  left-hand menu , select  Assessment > Outcomes, Methods, and Findings . If no outcomes exist, you must create at least one before adding methods. Creating a Method Open the outcome you want to assess by: Double-clicking the outcome name, or Using the  vertical ellipses (⋮)  menu on the right. Select the  Methods  tab. Click the  green and white plus button  to add a new method. Complete the following fields: Assessment Method Short Name : A brief label (e.g.,  Direct Measure ). Assessment Method Description : Full explanation of the method, including measurable targets (e.g.,  80% of students score 4 or higher on the presentation rubric ). Status : Defaults to  Active  unless archiving an old method. Attach a Tool : Use the  green and white plus button  to upload supporting materials (e.g., assignment instructions, rubrics). Saving and Managing Methods Click  Save  in the top-right corner to finalize your method. After saving: Review the breadcrumb trail at the top to confirm the method is linked to the correct outcome. Edit or delete methods using the  vertical ellipses (⋮)  menu. Need Help? Contact the Office of Accreditation and Assessment: Phone:  (870) 972-2989 Location:  Room 610, Dean B. Ellis Library Email: klee@astate.edu ➡️  Next Documenting Findings Findings document the results of your assessment activities and indicate whether your program met its established targets. In Nuventive, findings also include analysis, reflection, and action planning for continuous improvement. You cannot add Findings until at least one Method has been created and saved for the Outcome . Video Tutorial Watch:  Recording Findings This short video explains how to enter findings and interpret results in Nuventive. Key Features Accessing Findings Navigate to your program using the  selection menu . From the  left-hand menu , select  Assessment > Outcomes, Methods, and Findings . Open the outcome you want to report on by: Double-clicking the outcome name, or Using the  vertical ellipses (⋮)  menu on the right. Select the  Findings  tab. Creating a Finding Click the  green and white plus button  to add a new finding. Complete the following fields: Overview : Summarize the results of your assessment. Target Met? : Indicate whether the target was met, exceeded, or not met. Reporting Period : Select the academic year for which you are reporting. Multiple Modalities : Indicate whether results represent multiple program modalities (e.g., hybrid vs. fully online). Student Counts : Enter the number of students assessed and the number who met the target. Analysis and Reflection : Provide interpretation of results and implications for improvement. Action Plan : Outline steps for addressing findings. Evidence (Optional) : Upload supporting documentation. Saving and Managing Findings Click  Save  in the top-right corner to finalize your finding. After saving: Review the breadcrumb trail at the top to confirm the finding is linked to the correct outcome and method. Edit or delete findings using the  vertical ellipses (⋮)  menu. Need Help? Contact the Office of Accreditation and Assessment: Phone:  (870) 972-2989 Location:  Room 610, Dean B. Ellis Library Email: klee@astate.edu ➡️  Next