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Center for Assessment and Institutional Research

(CAIR)

Welcomes You

The Center for Assessment and Institutional Research collects, analyzes, and disseminates internal and external institutional data to support policy analysis, strategic planning, decision-making, and academic and non-academic program development and evaluation.

Center for Assessment and Institutional Research Staff:

Assistant Vice President

Delores Honey, Ph.D.

Tel. (417) 625-9696

Research Analyst

Janette Van De Mark

Tel. (417) 625-9545

Administrative Secretary

Linda Garza

Tel. (417) 625-9349

FAX. (417) 659-4457

 

The Department offers the following options:

Institutional Research

The institutional studies and quantitative data processed and maintained by the Center facilitate:

  • Fulfillment of government-mandated periodic reporting
  • Compliance with legal and institutional accountability guidelines
  • Assistance with accreditation procedures
  • Support for improvement efforts toward accomplishing the universities’ mission
  • Reports for proposals, grants, or fundraising purposes
  • Internal and external consultation on institutional assessment and research
  • International institutional research consultation, upon request.

Outcomes Assessment

The center uses nationally standardized and locally developed tests and other measurement tools to evaluate core educational outcomes and academic values described in the Assessment Plan.

MSSU outcomes assessment strategies target:

  1. Institutional efficacy, through research and assessment of:
    1. School, department, and core curriculum programs, and
    2. Academic and developmental outcomes of graduating seniors
  2. Students’ views and attitudes, and their expectations and ratings of academic programs and student services, in order to:
    1. Enhance student satisfaction and engagement, and
    2. Ensure student retention and degree completion

Program Review

The Center coordinates Academic Program Reviews in cycles of departmental program evaluation.

As a result, a trend of program changes developed over the last decade:

  1. Linkages to state goals and regional accreditation criteria,
  2. new courses developed specifically for core education,
  3. core curriculum, including infusion of international issues in the curriculum, viewed as responsibility of all faculty
  4. higher standards and expanded requirements,
  5. tighter curricular structure,
  6. involvement of faculty and students in community service,
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