6.2 Structural Units and Responsibilities

1. Institutional Resources Committee, Board of Trustees
   
   The Trustees’ Institutional Resources Committee reviews the progress made by the University in the implementation of its plan, considers proposed changes to the Mission and Goals, establishes benchmarks for the University, and makes recommendations to the Board on matters related to strategic planning.

    

2. Institutional Effectiveness Committee

   The Institutional Effectiveness Committee is convened by the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and is comprised of representatives from all areas of the University. The committee advises the Vice Presidents and Deans on all matters related to the assessment process, including assessment procedures and instruments. It is the primary group concerned with the inclusiveness and quality of the assessment process and institutional effectiveness within the University. The charge of the committee includes:

   • The review of each unit’s Annual Assessment Report.
   • The review of other assessment activities to determine the use of assessment results University-wide.
   • The review of assessment processes in the overall operation of the University.
   • The review of other issues of common concerns, forming sub-committees and ad hoc committees as needed to address specific issues.

      

3. Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives, Effectiveness, and Assessment 
   
   The Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives, Effectiveness, and Assessment reports to the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance and is responsible for providing leadership to the university for strategic initiatives, assessment, and institutional effectiveness. In conjunction with the President and Vice Presidents, the SDS will assist with the development and implementation of comprehensive strategic planning that supports the core educational and administrative objectives of the university. The SDS is responsible for monitoring and documenting the strategic planning process to ensure the university achieves its goals.
   
   
4. Director of Institutional Effectiveness 
   
   The Director of Institutional Effectiveness reports to the Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives, Effectiveness, and Assessment and is responsible for: the oversight and coordination of the campus-wide assessment and evaluation processes; ensuring that valid and reliable assessment is occurring throughout the University; serves as the leader on projects concerned with establishing measures of institutional effectiveness; and provides leadership, support, and direction to administrators, faculty and staff for the purpose of accreditation compliance and review and planning initiatives; and coordinates the annual assessment reporting.
   
   Annual Unit Reports (academic and non-academic) are reviewed by the Institutional Effectiveness Office and summarized for presentation to the Trustee Institutional Resources Committee.
   
   
5. Director of Institutional Research
   
   The Director of Institutional Research reports to the Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives, Effectiveness, and Assessment; collects and provides data to decision-makers as requested; provides timely and accurate information for external surveys; and conducts internal surveys and other research as needed and requested.
   
   
6. The Institutional Review Board
   
   The Institutional Review Board, comprised of a coordinator and representatives from each school, reviews all Piedmont University research proposals involving human subjects. Proposals are submitted to the IRB Coordinator, who has the responsibility for review of exempt and expedited studies. Research requiring full review is referred to the entire committee for consideration. The IRB coordinator reports to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and chairs the IRB. The IRB is responsible for:

• developing and reviewing procedures for approving human subjects research;
• reviewing research proposals;
• maintaining records of research proposals; and advising faculty and administration of any problems arising from human research involving Piedmont University.