Supporting Quality, Accountability, and Continuous Improvement
The Office of Accreditation, Compliance, and Assessment supports Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's commitment to academic excellence, institutional effectiveness, and regulatory responsibility. Through accreditation activities, professional licensure compliance, and assessment initiatives, the office helps ensure that programs meet rigorous standards while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and student success.
Accreditation
Saint Mary’s maintains institutional and specialized program accreditations that demonstrate our commitment to quality education, academic integrity, and continuous improvement.
Compliance & professional licensure
The university monitors regulatory requirements related to federal and state authorizations, professional licensure disclosures, and other compliance obligations that support students, faculty, and academic programs.
Assessment of student learning
Assessment of student learning is the process of supporting student learning through the thoughtful and reflective design of evaluation techniques and opportunities with the overall aim of improving the learning experience of students and the quality of academic programs.
The university follows an annual assessment cycle for all degree and non-degree programs. Assessment of student learning consists of two parts–planning and reporting. The process focuses on thoughtful reflection, planning, and analysis of the various methods and resources used to assess learning with a view to continually improving the quality and experience of student learning at the university.
Assessment planning
Chairs and Program Directors propose a plan for assessing student learning. In collaboration with the Office of Accreditation, Compliance, and Assessment, they review their program goals and identify appropriate assessment tools such as assignments, exams, papers, presentations, to effectively assess student learning. Planning focuses on actively thinking about student-centered learning and the best methods to deliver quality programs.
Assessment reporting
Reporting is the second part of the annual assessment cycle that focuses on analyzing the data collected during the planning stage. Chairs and Program Directors report on the data they collect on assessment (grades, benchmarks) at the end of the academic year. Reporting also involves continued reflection through analysis of the collected data to review if improvements in assignment design or revisions of program outcomes are needed.
Contact Us
Tracy Lehnertz, M.A.
Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness
Institutional Effectiveness
Saint Mary’s Hall, SM 128
Campus Box: # 1
(507) 457-1694
Kara Wener, M.S.
Director of Data Analytics and Institutional Research
Institutional Effectiveness
Saint Mary’s Hall, SM 128B
Campus Box: # 1489
(507) 457-1494
Jennifer Kuderer, M.A.
Institutional Research Analyst
Institutional Effectiveness
Saint Mary’s Hall, SM 128A
Campus Box: # 1498
(507) 457-6632
Jessica Sherlock
Coordinator - Data Projects
Institutional Effectiveness
Saint Mary’s Hall, SM 126
(507) 457-1881
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