Institutional Effectiveness

Institutional Effectiveness is the systematic and continuous process of collecting, analyzing, and distributing data and information linked to goals and outcomes developed by each program to embrace the mission and vision of Edgecombe Community College. Institutional Effectiveness does not occur in isolation nor is it a one-time activity. It is an ongoing, cyclical process composed of goal setting, implementation, evaluation, assessment, and improvement that is applied at every level of the college and involves all faculty, staff, and students. Institutional effectiveness is dynamic and constantly evolving. It is a fundamental part of ECC’s commitment to continuous improvement of programs and services. At ECC, we are committed to the review of our mission, goals, and objectives, and to the measurement, evaluation, and reporting of the outcomes of our activities to ensure the quality of our services.

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness provides administrative assistance, coordination, information, and data analysis for college’s planning and research activities. The office works collaboratively with all members of the college to fulfill the educational mission of the North Carolina Community College System and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools while achieving the mission and vision of the college. The office facilitates the incorporation of assessment, planning, and institutional research to evaluate and enhance all academic programs and services.

The office collects, analyzes, organizes, and disseminates data and institutional information by conducting the following activities:

• Providing leadership that encourages campus-wide participation in the planning process
• Facilitating and serving as the liaison for the collection, distribution, and exchange of college-wide information to support institutional decision-making, planning, and reporting
• Guiding the development, implementation, and assessment of strategic planning and institutional improvement throughout the college
• Coordinating institutional evaluation and assessment activities
• Developing and publishing institutional reports
• Assisting with the development of appropriate outcomes and evaluation measurements
• Facilitating the utilization of evaluation results to improve processes
• Assisting programs with compliance and accreditation requirements
• Guiding the college through a successful Southeastern Association of Colleges and Schools reaffirmation process and assisting in the preparation of responses
• Monitoring the utilization of institutional goals and objectives in the development of the college budget
  

Planning Process
Planning and assessment at ECC begins and ends with the college mission. Specifically, measurable educational and service outcomes have been derived from a mission and long-term goals that stress educational access, comprehensive choices, and quality. How effectively the college achieves its expected outcomes is a measure of overall institutional effectiveness.

The conceptual model of ECC’s annual cycle of planning and assessment operates on two types of planning, assessment planning and strategic planning. Assessment planning involves setting specific, measurable program and service outcomes that describe the benefits that students, faculty, staff, and other community stakeholders can expect.

Strategic planning supports assessment planning by setting the future direction of the college and by anticipating the physical and human resources necessary to provide timely, effective, and meaningful outcomes. Both types of planning are superimposed on a four-stage, quality improvement based cycle. Each stage (Plan, Do, Study, and Act) is depicted by a separate quadrant of the model and each quadrant is subdivided into specific planning and assessment activities. Click here to view a diagram of the planning and assessment process at ECC.

Performance Results
The North Carolina Board of Community Colleges adopted 12 performance measures for accountability in 1999. These performance measures focus primarily on student success and serve as the System’s major public accountability tool. Standards of performance have been established for measures identified as being critical to ensure public accountability for programs and services. To achieve a superior rating, a college must meet or exceed standards in five of six performance categories including progress of basic skills students, passing rates on licensure and certification exams, goals of attending students, employment status of graduates, and the performance of college transfer students. Additional information on the 12 performance measures can be found in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Click here to view results of the System’s 2005-2006 Performance Measures & Standards.

For more information on Institutional Effectiveness at ECC, call Director Sheila Hoskins at (252) 823-5166 ext. 276 or email hoskinss@edgecombe.edu.

Tarboro:  (252) 823-5166 2009 W. Wilson St. Tarboro, NC 27886

Rocky Mount:  (252) 446-0436 225 Tarboro St. Rocky Mount, NC 27801