Introduction

A major aspect of Institutional Effectiveness is evaluation of an institution's performance. For this reason, the Lee College Institutional Effectiveness Committee (IEC) has selected a number of key indicators designed to reflect the progress that Lee College is making with respect to accomplishment of its goals. Thus, included in this IERC are measures for each of the College's goals for the 2006-2007 year. For ease of use, the IERC is organized by goal with relevant indicators following each goal. Some indicators are more accurate measures than others. For instance, financial indicators, such as cost per full time equivalent student (FTE), are precise. Others are less so, but serve as acceptable proxies for the desired information. Generally, the IEC chose indicators that are well understood, widely accepted, and easy to compute using available data.

The IEC recognizes that to assess performance, it is often helpful to compare Lee College with other institutions. Accordingly, wherever possible, the IEC collected such comparative data.

The IEC wants to emphasize that there is no "right" or "wrong" value for any indicator. What is essential is to know Lee College's position relative to peers, to past performance, and, most importantly, to accomplishment of its goals and then to investigate and understand the reasons for any perceived problem areas. Once these reasons are understood, the IERC can become the basis for taking or not taking action.

It is also important to bear in mind the external trends and influences not directly reflected in the indicators presented. For example, as a public institution, Lee College must monitor Texas political and economic trends that will affect appropriations. In addition, as a community college, Lee College must monitor local business trends for clues about needed new programs.

Caveats notwithstanding, the IERC provides a framework for understanding Lee College's institutional condition relative to its goals and for taking steps to improve.