A REPORT TO THE NORTHWEST COMMISSION ON COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH utah.edu 2015 THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH YEAR SEVEN SELF EVALUATION REPORT SUBMITTED TO: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities 8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100 • Redmond, WA 98052 September 1, 2015 CONTACT INFORMATION: Accreditation Liaison Officer for the University of Utah Dr. David Kieda Dean, The Graduate School Professor of Physics and Astronomy University of Utah • 302 Park Building • Salt Lake City, UT • 84112‐9016 801- 581- 6926 (phone) • 801 ‐585 ‐6749 (fax) [email protected] THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH ii Introduction TABLE OF CONTENTS Institutional Overview ..............................................................................................................................................v Basic Institutional Data Form .................................................................................................................................vii Preface ....................................................................................................................................................................xvii Development of the University of Utah 2015 Year Seven Self-Evaluation Report.......................................................................................... xvii Brief History and Update on Institutional Changes since Ad hoc Self Evaluation Report ...........................................................................xviii Additional Institutional Changes including Policy Revisions .................................................................................................................................xx Other Communications with NWCCU Since last report ..........................................................................................................................................xx University General Catalog ............................................................................................................................................................................................xx Standard 1: Mission, Core Themes and Expectations .............................................................................................1 Executive Summary of Eligibility Requirements 2 and 3 .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Standard 1.A: University Mission Statement ............................................................................................................................................................... 2 Standard 1.B.1: Core Themes or Four Big Goals (2014) ............................................................................................................................................. 2 Standard 1.A.2: Mission Fulfillment ............................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Standard 1.B.2: Core Themes or Four Big Goals.......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Big Goal 1: Promote Student Success to Transform Lives ................................................................................................................... 5 Big Goal 2: Develop and Transfer New Knowledge .............................................................................................................................. 9 Big Goal 3: Engage Communities to Improve Health and Quality of Life .....................................................................................10 Big Goal 4: Ensure Long-Term Viability of the University ..................................................................................................................13 Standard 2: Resources and Capacity ......................................................................................................................17 Executive Summary of Eligibility Requirements 4-21 ..............................................................................................................................................17 Standards 2.A through 2.G ............................................................................................................................................................................................23 Standard 3.A: Institutional Planning .....................................................................................................................77 Standard 4: Core Theme Planning, Assessment, and Improvement ...................................................................83 Executive Summary of Eligibility Requirements 22 and 23 ....................................................................................................................................83 Standards 3.B, 4.A, 4.B ....................................................................................................................................................................................................85 Institution wide practices .........................................................................................................................................................................85 Big Goal 1: Promote Student Success to Transform Lives ...............................................................................................................101 Big Goal 2: Develop and Transfer New Knowledge ..........................................................................................................................141 Big Goal 3: Engage Communities to Improve Health and Quality of Life ...................................................................................160 Big Goal 4: Ensure Long-Term Viability of the University ................................................................................................................178 Summary of Assessment Results ..........................................................................................................................................................192 Standard 5: Mission Fulfillment, Adaptation, and Sustainability..................................................................... 197 Executive Summary of Eligibility Requirements 24 ...............................................................................................................................................197 Standard 5.A.1 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................198 U 2015 Year Seven Self Study Assessment ...............................................................................................................................................................199 Summary of Quantitative Performance Indicators ..........................................................................................................................199 Summary of Composite Strategy Indicators ......................................................................................................................................200 Combined Analysis and Interpretation ...............................................................................................................................................202 Assessment of Mission Fulfillment ........................................................................................................................................................204 Standards 5.A.2, 5.B1, 5.B2 ..........................................................................................................................................................................................205 Standard 5.B.3 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................221 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................ 231 Bibliography & Websites ...................................................................................................................................... 233 Appendices ........................................................................................................................................................... 251 Appendix A: External Learning Outcomes Measures and Specialized Accreditation ....................................................................................251 Appendix B: Additional Policies ..................................................................................................................................................................................257 Appendix C: Example Departmental Dashboard ..................................................................................................................................................271 Appendix D: Commonly Used Acronyms .................................................................................................................................................................274 Introduction iii THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH iv Introduction INSTITUTIONAL OVERVIEW he University of Utah, founded