Mission Statement:

The mission of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness is to provide leadership and assistance in developing and overseeing the institutional processes for planning, assessment, evaluation, and using feedback for continuous improvement to fulfill the College’s mission and goals.

For more than a decade, the concept of institutional effectiveness has gained significant prominence in higher education. Institutional effectiveness is a process of evaluation and planning as demonstrated by the development of planning processes that include assessment and use of results. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools have provided accrediting standards as outlined in Principles of Accreditation: Foundation for Quality Enhancement (2004) and refers to institutional effectiveness as a process of engaging in ongoing, integrated, and institution-wide research-based planning and evaluation processes that incorporate a systematic review of programs and services that (a) results in continuing improvement, and (b) demonstrates that the institution is effectively accomplishing its mission. Each phase of the process involves wide-based involvement of the university, area, division or department.

Bennett College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and as such, complies with the standards set this regional accrediting body. The hallmark of a quality institution is the extent to which the institution is able to achieve institutional effectiveness. The administration of Bennett College established the Office of Institutional Assessment because it is convinced that institutional effectiveness is necessary for achieving excellence and efforts to attain effectiveness should be centrally coordinated and monitored.

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness will fulfill its mission by ensuring that:
    · The mission statement of the College describes in comprehensive, concise, and     

       clear terms its purpose for being as reflected in the results of the educational,

       research, and public service programs of the institution;
    · The goals and objectives at all levels are consistent with the institution’s purpose;
    · Procedures for evaluating the extent to which these educational goals are being

       achieved are comprehensive, systematic, integrative, and reliable and are

       utilized at all levels of the institution; and
    · Evaluation results are used continuously to improve educational programs,

       services, and operations for maximum productivity of the institution.