Academic Reviews and Evaluation Processes
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is committed to a process of continuous improvement. To that end, the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs coordinates a variety of academic reviews. These reviews supplement unit-coordinated reviews, institutional accreditation and specialized accreditation, and the assessment of student learning outcomes.
Centers and Institutes
Centers and Institutes (CIs) are valued and encouraged at Rutgers University as vibrant and highly productive components of the University community. CIs represent more dynamic structures with greater flexibility and opportunity to adapt to economic and academic competitive pressures. Policy 10.1.5 (Centers and Institutes), which was primarily informed by recommendations of the Rutgers Committee on Academic Planning, provides for the classification, creation, review, modification, and dissolution of CIs, with the goals of enhancing their operation, management, support, and impacts. The policy is informed by the “Guidelines for Center and Institute Proposals and Periodic Progress Reports and Procedures for their Submission.”
Committee on Academic Planning
The Committee on Academic Planning (CAP) is an independent advisory group of senior faculty. CAP’s mission is to advise the President and the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs of Rutgers University on academic planning and other issues that significantly impact Rutgers, in order to best fulfill the missions of the university. CAP activities might include undertaking strategic reviews of academic activities that are hosted centrally as requested by the president and the executive vice president for academic affairs or suggested by members of CAP. It might also include assisting the president and the executive vice president for academic affairs in encouraging interdisciplinary or inter-campus programs or initiatives. Similarly, it might advise on possible university-wide structural changes in university administration.
Evaluation of Chancellors
The process for the periodic evaluation of chancellors has been formulated through a series of iterations from the Rutgers University Senate and the President of the University, and applies to the chancellors of Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), Rutgers University–Newark, and Rutgers University–Camden.
Evaluation of Academic Deans
The process for the periodic evaluation of academic deans has been formulated through a series of iterations from the Rutgers University Senate and the President of the University and applies to the academic dean of each college/school of the University.
Institutional Framework for Continuous Improvement
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is committed to continuous improvement in academic affairs to link periodic assessment to the broader strategic goals of the academic unit, campus, and/or university and to evaluate the budgetary resources necessary to achieve such goals. The university engages in multiple assessment efforts to promote continuous improvement. To build upon these efforts, each chancellor-led unit (CLU) shall develop a procedure or policy that articulates the manner in which a regularized assessment process, with the goal of continuous improvement, is instituted within the CLU. Such procedures or policies must comport with the Institutional Framework for Continuous Improvement in Academic Affairs. The intent of CLU-specific procedures or policies is to ensure that each CLU has sufficient latitude to define a continuous improvement process appropriate to its mission and to document evidence of assessment and continuous improvement to the Middle State Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).