Institutional effectiveness is an ongoing systematic process of collecting and analyzing relevant data, measuring progress, and using the information to make improvements and sound management decisions.
The importance of performance to institutional effectiveness is recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in its 2024 Principles of Accreditation, which state the following expectations:
Section 8.1:
The institution identifies, evaluates, and publishes goals and outcomes for student achievement appropriate to the institution’s mission, the nature of the students it serves, and the kinds of programs offered. The institution uses multiple measures to document student success. (Student achievement) [Core Requirement]
Accountability initiatives and performance measures help to demonstrate progress toward accomplishing the overarching priorities of the university. As part of Success by Design, the university has established a comprehensive performance indicator system that will be used to monitor institutional progress in specific areas.
In addition, NKU has implemented an annual performance reporting process where divisions, colleges, and other planning units can document their progress toward goals and objects identified in their alignment plans.
In 1997, the legislature passed the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act (HB 1). HB1 explicitly charges the Council on Postsecondary Education to develop a public agenda, strategic implementation plan, and accountability system with benchmarks. Each institution in the system has an action plan for advancing the Public Agenda in keeping with the goals of House Bill 1 and is required to report annually on progress made toward specific institutional goals.
NKU will continuously monitor all performance indicators to help assure progress is being made and adjust actions as necessary to meet the goals set forth in the Public Agenda and CPE targets set for NKU in Higher Education Matters.
