Annual Unit Health Check-Up Toolkit

Department leaders often underestimate the role they play in long term success of the institution. They may think their decisions, such as those pertaining to hiring faculty or scheduling courses, solely impact their departments; however, in aggregate these decisions have significant effects on their institution’s strategic priorities.

To ensure institutional and departmental priorities are aligned, EAB recommends annual departmental reviews to monitor performance and redirect efforts. The most effective annual reviews are those that are informed by data. Provosts and teams review data, set goals, and diagnose departmental challenges—outlining specific actions departments should take and why.

The Annual Unit Health Check-Up Toolkit will help members of Academic Performance Solutions (APS) create and implement an annual unit health check-up process that is embedded with data, as well as supports institutional and departmental goals.

Tool 1: Readiness Assessment (pg. 9)

Before kicking off a new annual unit health check-up process for the first time, assess how prepared your institution is and identify ways to fill the gaps.

Tool 2: Milestones Timeline (pg. 12)

Use this timeline to guide and track your progress as you design and implement a new annual unit health check-up process.

Tool 3: Talking Points (pg. 14)

Before introducing the new annual unit health check-up process to leaders, fill out the worksheet to prepare for questions you may receive.

Tool 4: Follow-up Introduction E-mail Template (pg. 17)

After introducing the annual unit health check-up process to deans and department chairs, send a follow-up e-mail to reiterate the new process, its goals, and your institution’s timeline.

Tool 5: Pick Your Metrics (pg. 19)

Select between five and ten metrics from the APS platform to include in your annual unit health check-up guide for department chairs or other designated individuals to complete. Before choosing your metrics, learn how one member embedded specific APS metrics into their review process.

Tool 6: How-to Guide for Locating and Interpreting Selected Metrics (pg. 22)

Use this guide to select metrics to include in your annual unit health check-up templatized report.

Tool 7: Supporting Resources E-mail Template (pg. 50)

After holding the kickoff meeting with department chairs, send more information about your institution’s selected metrics and supporting resources.

Tool 8: Sample Annual Health Check-Up Report” (pg. 52)

This document is a snippet of an annual health check-up report, compiled from different institutions’ templates. Connect with your APS Strategic Leader to view other partner examples to help inform the creation of your own templatized report.

Tool 9: Results Worksheet (pg. 55)

After completing the process, measure your results.

Tool 10: Reflection Guide (pg. 60)

Once your institution has completed the annual unit health check-up process, use this tool to reflect. This will help you proactively prepare for next year.