Glossary:
Assessment — Methods than an institution employs to gather evidence and evaluate quality. (Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, 2002)
Charrette — (shär-retš) is from the French noun meaning cart. Used in architecture, it refers to an intensive critique and planning session. In the 19th century at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, student architects collected their project materials for final jurying by the faculty, seated themselves on a charrette and were pulled by other would-be architects to their examination. Along the way, in a kind of intensive planning process, the group would join their talents and background to critique and redesign the preliminary architectural plan or solution, despite the short time available. Thus, the charrette process came to be an assembly of professional architects and students who would jointly analyze a major design problem, develop a number of solutions to the problem, critique these, and select the best. The charrette brought a number of architectural talents, interests, biases, and resources to bear at one time on an important problem.
Strategic Planning — A disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization (or other entity) is, what it does, and why it does it. At its best, strategic planning requires broad scale information gathering, an exploration of alternatives, and an emphasis on the future implications of present decisions. It can facilitate communication and participation, accommodate divergent interests and values, and foster orderly decision making and successful implementation. (Olson and Eadie, 1982)
Student Learning Outcomes — Knowledge, skills and attitudes that a student has attained at the end (or as a result) of his or her engagement in a particular set of collegiate experiences. (Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, 2002)
Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) — Financial and non-financial quantifiable measures used to determine to what extent an objective has been achieved. KPI’s reflect the organization’s goals and differ from one organization to another based on the nature of the organization and its mission. They help an organization measure its progress towards achieving goals. Key performance indicators rely on consistent and accurate data. (Reh, F. John. “Glossary of Business Management Terms”)
Pedagogy — The art and science of educating students. Effective teaching strategies, influenced by the educational philosophy of the teacher, are determined by the students’ knowledge, experiences and environment. “This complex combination of skills and abilities is integrated in the professional teaching standards that also include essential knowledge, dispositions, and commitments that allow educators to practice at a high level.” (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards)
Stakeholders — Individuals or organizations who stand to gain or lose from the success or failure of a system. (Nuseibeh and Easterbrook, 2000)