Outlining a Process for Improvement: Methods From a University Library Assessment Plan

Abstract The Office of Accreditation, Assessment, and Evaluation (AAE) at Northern Illinois University (NIU) oversees accreditation and assessment efforts, focusing on student learning outcomes and program evaluations. Each degree program and academic support unit—such as the library—must submit an assessment plan. Based on these plans, a Status Report is produced every five to six years. This report summarizes learning outcomes, methods, data, targets, and actions. The University Assessment Panel reviews assessment plans, status reports, and provides guidance on performance measures. The NIU Libraries Assessment Project follows the guidelines set by the AAE office. This project includes submitting an Assessment Plan and a Status Report, both of which are reviewed every six years by the University Assessment Panel. The University Libraries Assessment Task Force reviewed the 2015 assessment plan, developed new assessment tools, assigned responsible individuals for each method, and created a schedule of activities for the new Assessment Plan and the development of the 2020 Status Report. In this chapter, we present the process, a description of the assessment methods used, examples of assessment instruments, and a summary of recommendations for improvement.