Tailor your strategy to establish goals, objectives and outcomes, while defining the measures, criteria for success and activities needed to achieve them. Assessment plans should include the following elements: goals, objectives, outcomes, measurements, metrics, targets, Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and a collection plan.
Goals
A goal is a desired result that you plan and commit to achieving. Goal statements should align with the unit’s vision and mission, while guiding the assessment plan and identifying what data should be collected. Goals should be broad enough to encompass related objectives and outcomes, yet specific enough to provide clear direction for the unit’s efforts.
Objectives
An objective statement defines the intended results of a unit’s processes, services, or activities. It communicates the direction of the unit’s work, aligns with established goals, and follows SMART guidelines (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) while supporting the unit’s overall mission.
Outcomes
An outcome describes what the audience will know, be able to do, or experience as a result of an activity or event. Administrative outcomes often highlight how a unit or service influences student knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values, while maintaining alignment with the unit’s mission and goals.
Measures
Measures are data collection methods used to assess outcomes and objectives, divided into direct and indirect categories. Direct measures capture actual performance and provide key insight into the experience or learning. Indirect measures capture the attitudes, perceptions or feelings about the experience or learning that is taking place.
Metrics/Criteria for Success and Targets
Metrics and critera for success are used interchangeably to define the acceptable performance measures used to track achievement. Metrics refer to the quantitative values to define the success levels. Criteria for success refers to the quantitative and qualitative values to define the success levels.
A target is the desired success level you aim to achieve, while metrics and criteria define the acceptable levels of success. For example, your criteria might be a 75% satisfaction rate, with a target of 90%, representing an aspirational goal.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are essential tools for defining and measuring success. They provide clear benchmarks that show how well a unit, department, or institution is performing and help determine whether strategic efforts are moving in the right direction.