UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As part of a systematic restructuring designed to better meet Penn State’s planning and assessment needs, the Office of Planning and Institutional Assessment (OPIA) is now the Office of Planning and Assessment (OPA). This office will provide the overarching structure for two subsidiary departments — the Department of Planning and Institutional Research (PIR) and the Department of Learning Outcomes Assessment (LOA).
The name change and new structure are designed to reflect and facilitate the unit’s strategic focus on answering questions of significant institutional interest and its role in coordinating assessment efforts across the University. The changes are part of a series of moves designed to strengthen planning and assessment activities across the institution. In October, the University appointed Lance C. Kennedy-Phillips to the newly created position of vice provost for planning and assessment. Kennedy-Phillips is responsible for integrating and synthesizing Penn State's assessment and planning initiatives. Searches are currently underway to fill key leadership positions in PIR and LOA.
“This is an exciting time for us,” said Betty Harper, interim vice provost for planning and institutional research. “The work we do has a very good reputation, but with new leadership and a heightened visibility, I believe we are poised to significantly increase our positive impact on University decision-making.”
The Department of Planning and Institutional Research will continue to provide support to University decision-making through data collection and analytic activities, research projects, and strategic planning, as well as consultation, facilitation, and training services. The Department of Learning Outcomes Assessment will be focused on ensuring that the University has in place comprehensive and proper support mechanisms for program assessment for degree programs — including undergraduate majors, certificates, minors, and graduate programs — and co-curricular programs. The department will also be responsible for coordinating Penn State’s accreditation processes. For more information about the Office of Planning and Assessment, visit its webpage at www.opa.psu.edu.