Department Mission

The mission of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research (OIER) is a partner to the University’s success by providing analytic services that contribute to informed decision-making. The OIER support the University’s strategic mission by providing consistent and reliable data through collaborative and integrated planning and assessment. The OIER reinforces a culture of accountability and transparency by actively engaging the campus constituencies and levels of governance in the continuous improvement of student learning, educational programs, administrative and academic support services, and campus operations.

The OIER serves the diverse information needs and reporting demands through consultative leadership and assistance to academic and administrative departments in planning, assessment, data collection and reporting, analytics, and accreditation.

Department Goals

• Provide decision support research and analysis to facilitate the college’s planning process and associated program review, accreditation, benchmarking, and outcomes assessment activities
• Coordinate the college institutional effectiveness program
• Report official institutional data to external agencies and organizations
• Design and conduct internal studies as needed for informed decision making
• Develop and maintain student cohort databases for longitudinal comparisons and analysis
• Serve as the liaison to the regional accrediting agency (SACSCOC)
• Perform additional institutional research duties that may become necessary to further the goals of the college

Accreditation

Please see the TWU Accreditation page linked here.

INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS  |  INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH | POLICIES | STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Staff Information 

Stephanie Smallen, Ed.D.
Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Research
ssmallen@tnwesleyan.edu 
423-746-5213