COLLEGE DECISION:

TSTC Harlingen is committed to meeting or exceeding the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) criteria and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) guidelines relating to the assessment and improvement of student services. Furthermore, the college will support the concept of departmental and program improvement by encouraging active participation in the assessment and improvement process at all levels of the organization.

PROCEDURE:

1. The Vice President of Student Development will appoint members to the Student Affairs Internal Review (SAIR) Committee according to the following criteria:
   1. The SAIR Committee shall be a standing committee consisting of thirteen members representing the professional staff, faculty, and students.
   2. The SAIR Committee shall be composed of: (a) one professional staff member, two representatives from the Student Congress, and five faculty members representing each instructional division.
   3. Members of the SAIR Committee shall serve a three year term, staggered so that one-third of the membership is replaced each year, except student members who shall serve a one year term.
   4. The Office of the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research will be an ex-officio member of the SAIR Committee and will provide support (i.e., clerical and secretarial assistance, equipment, and supplies) to the SAIR Committee and to the Review Teams.
      
2. The SAIR Committee will implement the prescribed assessment and review process and conduct its business as follows:
   1. At the first regularly scheduled meeting of the SAIR Committee (August/September), members of the Committee will elect a chairperson and co-chairperson.
   2. The chairperson, and in his/her absence the co-chairperson, will preside over meetings of the SAIR Committee and carry-out other designated duties (refer to C1, C2, D2).
   3. The SAIR Committee will meet at least once a month; however, in the absence of business, the Committee may elect to cancel the August meeting.
   4. The SAIR Committee will receive reports (refer to E7) from the review teams and make appropriate comments and/or recommendations to the respective review teams.
   5. The SAIR Committee will provide the Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Research with a copy of each Student Services Assessment and Improvement Report.
      
3. The Chairperson of the Committee will appoint review teams and designate a team leader for each review team for the purpose of conducting assessments.
   1. Each review team will consist of three persons, appointed by the chairperson of the SAIR Committee, exclusive of students and personnel from the department under review.
   2. A team leader will be appointed by the airperson, or in his/her absence the co-chairperson, of the SAIR Committee.
      
4. The appointed review teams will adhere to the following guidelines:
   1. Team members will attend training sessions provided by the Director of Institutional Effectiveness & Research.
   2. The team leader will distribute the tasks involved in the assessment process among the team members and will report to the chairperson of the SAIR Committee.
   3. The team members will complete tasks assigned by the team leader in an objective, precise, and timely manner.
   4. The team leader and team members will follow the established procedures and the standards and guidelines of the assessment and improvement program.
      
5. Assessment and Reporting Procedures are as follows:
   1. The Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research will prepare the yearly assessment schedule at the beginning of the academic year (August/September)
   2. The Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research will inform the respective departments of an upcoming assessment at least three weeks prior to the event.
   3. The supervisor of the department under review will provide all necessary documentation (e.g., departmental records, Colleague data, departmental and/or division reports, college-wide reports, external and internal audit reports, and THECB reports) and will assist the team members during the assessment process.
   4. The team leader of the Review Team will apprise the department supervisor of the team’s concerns and findings during the course of the formal review. The team leader will carry on a continuous dialogue with the department supervisor. The findings to be presented by the team leader shall be fully disclosed to the department supervisor prior to the reports final submission.
   5. The review process will take no longer than three (not necessarily consecutive) days per department and shall be completed within ten working days of the initial meeting of the review team with the department supervisor.
   6. All departments providing student services will be evaluated annually, according to the established calendar (see E1).
   7. The Review Team will provide the SAIR Committee with a written report (i.e. the Assessment and Improvement Form) and an oral report of its findings--for comments and/or recommendations--at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Student Services Review Committee.
   8. The Review Team will participate in a formal exit interview with the department supervisor (staff may be invited at the request of the supervisor), the appropriate Vice President, and the Director of Institutional Effectiveness.
      
6. The Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research will monitor the progress of SAIR work as follows:
   1. The Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research will monitor department reviews and chair all Exit Interviews.
   2. The Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research, in cooperation with the appropriate Vice President, will present a short report to the President’s Council upon completion of each departmental review.
   3. Within six months of the exit interview, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research will, in conjunction with the , Institutional Effectiveness Measures and Standards Committee, follow-up on recommendations and suggestions included in each report by tracking the action taken by administration and/or the department(s).
   4. Within twelve months of the exit interview, the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research will prepare a follow-up report for submission to the President’s Council with copies to the appropriate Vice President, chairperson of the SAIR Committee, chairperson of the Review Subcommittee of the Institutional Effectiveness Measures and Standards Committee, and department supervisor(s).