Academic Assessment

The Office of Accreditation and Assessment (OAA) is committed to continuous improvement and alignment with best practices in higher education for academic assessment.  The OAA is focused on streamlining the assessment process to improved data collection, reporting, and accountability mechanisms, ultimately fostering a culture of assessment excellence across the institution.  

The OAA facilitates the academic assessment process by providing training and access to assessment tools for those tasked with academic assessment.  The OAA oversees and coordinates the assessment of the individual academic programs/departments, annual assessment reports and the five-year program reviews using the Watermark Assessment Management System. 

Academic Assessment - Important Dates

• The deadline to submit the 2026-2027 Annual Academic Plan is September 30, 2026.
• The deadline to submit the 2025-2026 Annual Academic Report is June 30, 2027.
• The deadline to submit the AY 2025-2026 Dean’s Report to Provost – due by September 30, 2026. The report template can be found here: AY 2025-2026 Dean's College Level Report.docx

Academic Program Assessment Resources

Watermark Assessment Management System for Planning and Self-Study

• Please click on the link to view: Watermark - Identify Ways to Improve, Evolve and Empower SLOs

Canvas LMS

Academic programs use Canvas LMS to efficiently collect and manage assessment data within a centralized, familiar platform. By embedding outcomes, assignments, and rubrics directly into courses, faculty can evaluate student learning in real time while minimizing additional workload. This approach allows for consistent data collection across sections, supports meaningful analysis of student performance, and provides programs with actionable insights to inform continuous improvement efforts.
For more information, please contact our office assessment@kean.edu.

• Faculty Guide - Canvas  LMS for Effective Assessment of SLOs

Kean University sustains program quality through regular reviews. Accredited programs follow accrediting agency schedules, while non-accredited programs complete a 5-Year Program Review that includes a self-study and an external site visit. The Office of Accreditation and Assessment (OAA) manages the review schedule, notifies programs, and provides support throughout the process.

• Academic Program Review Guidelines (October 2024)

5-Year Program Review Report (Self-Study)

Programs will complete the self-study in the Watermark Assessment Management System, addressing program goals, relevance to employment and graduate education, enrollment and graduation trends, faculty qualifications and resources, and student outcomes.

• Watermark Self-Study Template

External Review Report

Following the site visit, the external reviewer will submit a report detailing key findings, strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations.

• External Review Template

Implementation of Recommendations

The Chair/Director and assessment coordinator will work with the Dean and OAA to coordinate implementation and establish timelines for follow-up.