Educational Effectiveness Plan (EEP)

The Educational Effectiveness Plan (EEP) offers an ongoing structure for departments to conduct systematic inquiry into the effectiveness of their efforts to support student success. Drawing from the essential elements of student learning assessment, the EEP focuses on evidence-based inquiry and using results to enhance department/program practices.

EEP provides a streamlined process for departmental reflection and reporting. Inquiry results can be used on an ongoing basis to inform the full range of departmental planning and reporting requirements, including: annual Planning and Budgeting, Program Review (Academic Quality and Development, or AQAD), Strategic and Unit Planning, and Disciplinary and NECHE Accreditation.

To this end, the EEP requires departments to do the following on a regular basis:

  1. Review and adapt your learning objectives and experiential goals for your students.
  2. Review the alignment of these objectives with your curricular design and delivery, instruction, and other practices.
  3. Identify and analyze the evidence you currently have about students’ progress on those objectives.
  4. Identify the actions you will take (or have taken) to improve or enhance your students’ learning and experiences.
  5. Identify and implement a department-defined line of inquiry into student success. The EEP process includes the expectation that departments will identify, design, and implement their own investigations into their program effectiveness through ongoing inquiry into their students’ learning and experiences.

EEP Resources

EEP Guide for Departments: This guide provides departments with an overview of and instructions for completing their EEP reports.

EEP Examples: See examples of how some departments have moved from their line of inquiry, to evidence collection and to future recommendations or results.

Academic Department Learning Objectives and Inquiry Plan: View each academic department's Educational Effectiveness Plan.

EEP Resource Series: A publication series providing assessment tools, examples, and updates to help departments in their ongoing efforts.

Additional guidance and consultation is available from ASER by contacting Alicia Remaly at mremaly@umass.edu or 413-545-3320.