Assessment, Accreditation and Strategic Planning

2016 Monthly Updates

  • December 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  This month’s  Strategic Plan Update  how many reports and resolutions presented at your December 16, 2016, Western Illinois University Board of Trustees meeting contribute to the continued successful advancement of the priorities and goals in  Higher Values in Higher Education.
  • November 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  This month’s  Strategic Plan Update  provides data from two external sources that show Western Illinois University places high in regional and national collegiate ranking systems. Data from  Washington Monthly  is also used to benchmark institutional progression in achieving the vision of  Higher Values in Higher Education  to become the leading university in quality, opportunity, and affordability.
  • October 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  This month’s  Strategic Plan Update  how many reports and resolutions presented at your October 7, 2016, Western Illinois University Board of Trustees meeting contribute to the continued successful advancement of the priorities and goals in  Higher Values in Higher Education.
  • September 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  This month’s  Strategic Plan Update  begins a series that will take a closer look at the University’s continued advancement in national ranking systems. This month’s  Update  will specifically look at data from  US News and World Report,  the Princeton Review, and  OnlineColleges.Com. Additional data from these and other sources will be presented during the course of the academic year.
  • August 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  This month’s  Strategic Plan Update  provides examples from the many  Higher Values in Higher Education  accomplishments occurring during the summer and first week of the fall semester. The data clearly show that there is positive momentum and progress at Western Illinois University, as we become the national leader in quality, opportunity, and affordability.
  • July 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  This month’s  Strategic Plan Update  documents the enrollment growth and quality (national recognitions received) of distance education at Western Illinois University. The data shows that Western provides in-demand, growing, high-quality distance education programs that are consistent with the vision of  Higher Values in Higher Education  to serve as a leader in quality, opportunity, and affordability.
  • June 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  This Western Illinois University Board of Trustees approved the University’s new  Higher Values in Higher Education 2016-2026 Strategic Plan Supplement  at its June 10, 2016 Board Meeting. Text copy is available at  www.wiu.edu/aasp/university_planning/strategicplan.php.
  • May 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  This month’s  Strategic Plan Update  demonstrates how many of the  Reports  and  Resolutions  presented at the June 10, 2016, Western Illinois University Board of Trustees meeting advance the goals and priorities of the University and our strategic planning processes.
  • April 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  This month’s  Strategic Plan Update  shows that Western Illinois University is ranked in the top 2% of 2,053 public and private four-year institutions in the retention and graduation of low-income students, according to data published by the United States Department of Education in March 2016. The University’s placement in this ranking and designation as an “Institution Excelling in Access and Success” is consistent with  Higher Values in Higher Education’s Vision  to be a leader in quality, opportunity, and affordability.
  • March 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  This month’s  Strategic Plan Update  shows how reports and resolutions discussed at your Friday, March 11th Western Illinois University Board of Trustees meeting continue successful advancement of the priorities and goals in  Higher Values in Higher Education. This month’s  Update  also provides detailed Illinois Board of Higher Education Cost Study data that was discussed in the  February 2016 Strategic Plan Update.
  • February 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  This month’s  Strategic Plan Update  provides data from statewide and national sources to show that Western Illinois University provides a quality, well-rounded educational experience. Moreover, the University does so in a manner that is cost efficient.
  • January 2016 Update:
    Synopsis:  The November 2015  Strategic Plan Update  compared student outcomes at Western Illinois University to national benchmark institutions. These comparisons showed that more Western students graduate from the University than are predicted on the basis of entering characteristics alone, and that Western alumni earn higher median salaries than independently predicted by two external agencies.
    Further analyses of these data show that Western Illinois University is a strong contributor to Illinois public higher education. The Illinois public universities annually educate over 200,000 students, and function as regional economic engines. The combined annual economic impact of the 12 Illinois public universities is $28 billion. Therefore, this month’s  Strategic Plan Update  replicates the methodology from the  November 2015 Strategic Plan Update  to compare results from the Illinois public universities.