The Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness partners with the UIS community on strategic initiatives and projects. This page will be used to share updates on current projects with the UIS community. Current projects include the Academic Portfolio Review Task Force, the HLC Quality Initiative, and the UIS Acronym Guide. You can provide suggestions, comments, and feedback on any current project or initiative using the form linked below. Responses may be submitted anonymously, if desired.

Current Projects 

Academic Portfolio Review Task Force

December 13, 2024 Update

At the December 13 meeting of the task force (see December 13, 2024 agenda), the task force discussed what measures to include within the first of the three higher-order criteria that was selected last week. Discussions were also held to identify and understand the data sources that could be used to inform those measures. The task force will meet again on January 10.

December 6, 2024 Update

At the December 6, 2024 meeting of the Academic Portfolio Review Task Force (see December 6, 2024 agenda), the task force members focused on developing higher level criteria to be included in the portfolio review process. Task force members identified three preliminary higher-level criteria. The task force conducted an anonymous vote via paper ballot to approve these higher-level categories (11 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstaining, 2 absent). Members had preliminary discussions on the weighting of these higher order categories for the review process, as well as identifying metrics that could inform each category.

November 22, 2024 Update

At the November 22 meeting of the Academic Portfolio Review Task Force (see November 22, 2024 agenda), the task force met with the Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Ken Kriz, who addressed questions on how the university calculated financial metrics. Task force members reviewed and discussed the university mission and the alignment of program review criteria with the mission. The task force discussed if and how the criteria developed are applicable to the CAP Honors program. Discussions continued on the higher-level criteria to be included in the portfolio review process and the detailed measures and metrics under each.

November 15, 2024 Update

At the November 15, 2024, meeting of the Academic Portfolio Review Task Force (see November 15, 2024 agenda), the task force members focused on developing higher level criteria to be included in the portfolio review process and began discussions of detailed criteria under each.  Members continued discussions on operational definitions to guide the portfolio review and identified what minors fit into a stand-alone category based on their operational definition. The task force began an initial discussion of how financials are calculated by the university and what information is available in this regard.

November 8, 2024 Update

At the November 8, 2024, meeting of the Academic Portfolio Review Task Force (see November 8, 2024 agenda), the task force received a revised charge from Provost Schwab based on feedback received from the task force after their first meeting. In addition to degree programs, stand-alone minors have been added to the scope of the review. The task force received several documents related to their initial discussions from last week, including a UIS program headcount frequency distribution, information about the IBHE Academic Program Efficiency and Effectiveness Report, and a high-level overview of the methodology used in the UPCEA consulting report.

The task force discussed and agreed on voting procedures. The task force made revisions to and approved their Guiding Principles, and then began brainstorming a list of operational definitions and possible criteria to include in the portfolio review process. Members of the task force are encouraged to add to these lists prior to the next meeting to be held on Friday, November 15.

November 1, 2024 Update

Provost Brandon Schwab attended the first meeting of the Academic Portfolio Review Task Force on Friday, November 1, 2024 (see November 1, 2024 agenda). After introductions were shared, Provost Schwab delivered the charge to the committee. The co-chairs shared draft versions of a report template, the task force timeline, and guiding principles with the task force. Members of the task force had an initial discussion of the charge and draft documents. Task force members were encouraged to provide feedback on the draft documents before the next meeting which will be held on Friday, November 8.  

Members of the task force are encouraged to inform colleagues that feedback and comments on the process are encouraged through the "Provide Feedback on Current Projects" form on this website. 

October 25, 2024 Update

The first meeting of the Academic Portfolio Review Task Force will be held on Friday, November 1. Members of the UIS community serving on the task force include:

• Michele Gribbins, Co-chair; Associate Provost for Institutional Research and Effectiveness
• Noah Reynolds, Co-chair; Associate Professor, Integrated Sciences, Sustainability and Public Health (CHST)
• Atul Agarwal, Professor, Management, Marketing and Operations (CBM)
• Salem Boumediene, Associate Professor, Accounting, Economics and Finance (CBM)
• Brian Clevenger, Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment and Retention Management
• Shane Harris, Associate Professor, Art, Music, & Theatre (CLASS)
• Steph Hedge, Associate Professor, English (CLASS)
• Mallory Jallas, Clinical Associate Professor, Library and Head, Information Literacy and Academic Outreach (ILAO)
• Matilda Kwarteng, Student Government Association
• Beth Ribarsky, Professor, Communication and Media (CPAE)
• Jorge Villegas, Associate Dean, CBM; Professor, Management, Marketing and Operations
• Magic Wade, Associate Professor, Politics and International Affairs (CPAE)
• Celest Weuve, Associate Professor and Director, Health Sciences (CHST)

September 30, 2024 Update

The Academic Portfolio Review Task Force is being formed with the intent of conducting a holistic academic program portfolio review. The task force will help determine the criteria and measures for a holistic program portfolio review and will inform the design of the program prioritization process that we will undertake next semester. Each of the four academic colleges and the campus senate have been asked to recommend faculty for consideration to serve on the task force. The task force will meet regularly beginning in October through the rest of the fall semester. Watch this site for additional updates once the task force has been formed.

Higher Learning Commission Quality Initiative

Fall 2024 Update

UIS is in the planning stages of a Quality Initiative as part of the HLC Open Pathway for Reaffirmation of Accreditation. Details on our plan can be found on the Quality Initiative webpage.

UIS Acronym Guide

November, 15 2024

OIRE is curating a UIS Acronym Guide. This is a crowdsourcing effort! If your unit or committees have acronyms that aren't currently listed in the guide, please submit them using the feedback form found at the top of this page.