MISSION: To develop and enhance the management systems and processes that enable the University to accomplish its mission of teaching, research, and outreach.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Support strategic planning activities across the campus.

2. Assist academic and non-academic units in obtaining and assessing stakeholder feedback.

3. Support academic and non-academic units in the analysis and improvement of work processes.

4. Coach leaders in the use of continuous improvement methods, strategic planning, project management, and consensus-based management methods.

5. Organize cross-functional teams to address key systems issues, such as enhancement of student learning, and the creation of a “green” campus.

6. Lead the University’s efforts to prepare effective campus leaders through the Leadership Academy and Orientations for New Academic Department Chairs.

7. Provide direct facilitation support to organizations across Alabama in strategic planning and quality improvement in support of outreach priorities.

8. Facilitate the assessment and improvement of the University’s management system through SACS re-affirmation of re-accreditation, through a Risk Assessment process, and through comparison against quality criteria such as the Alabama Quality Award criteria for Education.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

1. Strategic plans will be in place for the University, all colleges, and major support organizations.

2. A performance management system will be in place that tracks key performance measures for The University of Alabama.

3. Academic and non-academic units will have systems in place for obtaining and using stakeholder feedback as part of their planning and decision-making process.

4. Colleges will be engaged in the continuous improvement of student learning outcomes.

5. Problems in work processes will be effectively identified and addressed through departmental and cross-functional actions.

6. A strong focus will be maintained on building the leadership capacity on the campus through Human Resources training, CQI workshops,
a Leadership Academy, and the encouragement of on-going professional development activities.

7. Complex issues that require collaboration across organizational boundaries,such as environmental management issues, key administrative processes, and risk assessment will be effectively managed. A high level of cross-campus collaboration will be seen as the normal way of conducting business on the University of Alabama campus.

ULTIMATE OUTCOMES

The actions of the Office of CQI and Planning will ultimately lead to increased levels of research, increased enrollment of stronger students, improved measures of student learning, increased student satisfaction with academic and non-academic processes, and improvements in services being provided to the academic units by support organizations.