The Office of Curriculum, Accreditation, and Assessment (CAA) is responsible for the University's curricular and assessment activities. The office also serves as NKU's Liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and will take a leadership role in the University's 2009 reaffirmation process.

The office:

• Serves as Academic Affairs liaison on University Curriculum Committee.
• Maintains the (UCC) website.
• Develops electronic forms for curriculum form submission process.
• Maintains the University's database of curriculum forms. Provides guidance on development of new programs and courses.
• Serves as liaison to CPE Academic Affairs for state approval of new programs.
• Provides support for a systematic campus wide participation in assessment planning, implementation, and reporting of findings. 
• Provides direct services to departments in developing and implementing assessment programs. 
• Offers leadership and support for Program Review Steering Committee.
• Reviews and provides feedback on all assessment plans and reports. 
• Implements specific university assessment strategies including plans for assessment of Undergraduate General Education and new program Needs Assessment Surveys. 
• Coordinates surveys required by CPE including the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).
• Analyzes data and reports findings of assessment activities to the university community. 
• Serves as NKU's representative on CPE's Statewide Transfer Committee Reports state transfer policy changes to university community.
• Works closely with Admission's Transfer Office to propose and implement transfer policies and rectify problems.
• Maintains NKU/Gateway Partners website.
• Coordinates Articulation Agreement process between university departments and other institutions.
• Maintains list of approved articulation agreements.
• Coordinates yearly reports required by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). 
• Monitors the university's compliance with SACS criteria. Prepares Substantive Change reports required by SACS. 
• Provides leadership for self-study and reaffirmation visits. 

The Office for Curriculum, Accreditation and Assessment provides assistance to colleges, departments, faculty, and other units of the University in the identification of appropriate information pertinent to measuring programmatic outcomes.

During the last two decades, the effectiveness of the world of higher education institutions has been challenged by agents such as the federal and state governments, educational foundations, the general public, students and their families, and faculty and administrators within the institution. Individual universities themselves have been challenged to define their purpose and objectives more specifically, to develop mechanisms to determine the extent to which objectives are being met, and to actively engage in processes that progress toward clear goals. In 2001, The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the regional accrediting body for NKU, passed a major change in it accrediting procedures. The change asked universities to be more intentional, more systematic, more analytical, and more willing to engage in efforts to improve the effectiveness of their institutions. Specifically, the focus on institutional effectiveness requires institutions to adhere to the following fundamental characteristics of accreditation:

• Accreditation is based upon a peer review process. Accreditation requires an institutional commitment to
  student learning and achievement. Accreditation acknowledges an institution’s prerogative to articulate its mission within the recognized context of higher education and its responsibility to show that it is
  accomplishing its mission, especially with regard to student learning outcomes.
• Accreditation expects an institution to ensure that its
  programs are complemented by support structures and
  resources that allow for the total growth and development of its students.

Northern Kentucky University is scheduled for reaffirmation in 2009. For more information about SACS and the SACS Reaffirmation Process is available under SACS Activities.