Through the Office of Academic Affairs, assistance with accreditation and assessment resources are provided for all areas of the institution to enhance quality and effectiveness in achieving the mission of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS). Academically, this includes the quality of teaching and learning experiences for didactic, clinical, research, and  co-curricular activities that contribute to a student’s academic growth and success. At the program and institutional levels, assessment and continuous improvement are linked to strategic planning, program review, accreditation, and using institutional data for strategic decision-making and to measure progress toward institutional priorities.

A variety of accreditation and assessment information, resources, reporting, and related activities are facilitated through the Office of Academic Affairs.

• Accreditation of the University by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the regional institutional accreditor for post-secondary educational institutions in a 19‑state region of the United States.
• Degree-granting authority and related academic policies and procedures for all post-secondary institutions in the state from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE).
• Program-level assessment of curricular and co-curricular experiences for student learning.
• Assistance to the colleges/schools and academic programs for assessment of discipline-specific learning outcomes and specialized program accreditation.
• Workshops for faculty and staff to develop, enhance, and implement assessment strategies and for using the results to enhance quality in teaching, curriculum, instructional design, and support services.
• Leadership, processes, and ongoing communications for facilitating university-wide strategic planning, as directed through the Provost.
• Updates at May and November meetings for the RFUMS Board of Trustees regarding educational metrics for achieving institutional priorities.
• State and federal institutional reports required quarterly and annually for post-secondary education institutions.
• Facilitate university-wide projects and teams related to institutional effectiveness, academic excellence, and data governance.

Accreditation and Assessment at RFUMS

In addition to institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, RFUMS has nine specialized, program accreditations that signify meeting educational standards of quality in preparing students for careers in the health professions.

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Assessment Leadership Council and Assessment Workshops

The RFUMS Assessment Leadership Council facilitates continuous quality improvement for student learning through several goals and activities. One of its primary roles is to develop and host a variety of workshops for faculty and staff about assessment for student learning. The schedule and details about upcoming workshops as well as resource information from past workshops are provided below.

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Assessment and Interprofessionalism

The interprofessional (IP) healthcare education model is mission-driven and an area of distinction at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS). Interprofessional education is to “learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes.” (World Health Organization, 2010). Students at RFUMS learn to treat patients holistically with respect while valuing the contribution that each role brings to the interprofessional health care team.

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HLC Assessment Academy

RFUMS participated in the Higher Learning Commission’s (HLC) Assessment Academy from 2014 – 2017 and our project, Interprofessional Learning Outcomes for All Graduates, is the Quality Initiative project for the institution’s HLC Accreditation Review in fall 2018. The project is a catalyst for elevating the assessment of Interprofessional (IP) learning outcomes to a higher level of integration, visibility, and application while creating a sustainable university-wide culture of assessment.

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University Assessment Plans

Each academic program has created an assessment plan for program goals including those related to student learning and achievement at the program level. Since the interprofessional healthcare education model is mission-driven at RFUMS, faculty have also mapped the four competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPEC 2016) across the curriculum and have an assessment plan for the IPEC competencies in their program. Some of the academic programs as well as university-wide departments and divisions offer co-curricular programs for students. Assessment plans have been designed for the learning goals associated with each co-curricular activity/program. All three types of assessment plans are posted in University Assessment Plans and on the respective program webpages.

The assessment plans are updated each fall using results from the previous academic year.

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Websites & Newsletters

NILOA – National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment

AALHE – Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education