Office of Academic Compliance
Academic compliance refers to policies, procedures, and practices in place to ensure that actions regarding degree and certificate programs – from the content of the offerings, to how and where they are delivered – adhere to institutional, state, accreditation, and federal requirements and standards.

Competency Assessment

The University's competency assessment program is part of a statewide effort in Virginia, administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), to gather data and issue reports on the effectiveness of the Commonwealth's educational institutions. These competency assessments also serve to demonstrate compliance with the SACSCOC General Education Competency Standard. SCHEV's Policy on Student Learning Assessment and Quality in Undergraduate Education stipulates institutional requirements for the 2018-2024 assessment cycle.

The purpose of the competency assessment program is to determine undergraduate students’ level of knowledge and skills in the six areas listed below. The first four areas were prescribed by the State; the other two were selected by the University:

Institutional Research and Analytics administers the assessments and works with faculty committees per area to consider the findings and make recommendations. Results of the assessments are provided to deans and faculty to be used, as necessary, to improve the curriculum and teaching, and reported to SCHEV.

These competency assessments have been conducted since 2001-2002. Examples of assessment reports completed since 2010 and available upon request include:

  • Critical Thinking (2010-2011)
  • Oral Communication (2015-2016)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (2013-2014)
  • Scientific Reasoning (2012-2013)
  • Undergraduate Research (2011-2012)