Each University System of Georgia (USG) institution shall have a strategic planning process that maintains a current strategic plan in which institutional priorities are defined and through which the institution’s mission is carried out in accordance with the strategic directions and guiding principles established by the Board of Regents. The faculty and staff of each institution shall be involved in developing the planning process and shall be included in the structure by which the plan is implemented.

In addition, each institution shall have a formal process by which systematic assessment of institutional effectiveness is conducted and the results of assessments are used to achieve institutional improvement. Assessment processes may differ from institution to institution, but each institution shall assess:

1. Basic academic skills at entry;
2. General education;
3. Degree programs; and,
4. Academic and administrative support programs and/or functions.

The faculty and staff of each institution shall be involved in developing assessment processes and included in the structure by which those processes are implemented and used for improvement.

Each institution shall link its substantive budget allocations and other major academic and administrative decisions to its planning and assessment processes to improve institutional effectiveness. In addition, institutional planning, assessment, and improvement processes are expected to contribute to the realization of the USG vision, mission, goals, and strategic initiatives.

A current copy of each institution’s strategic plan shall be maintained in the University System Office. The plan will contain a description of the planning structure and process by which institutional priorities are set as well as the institution’s current priorities and goals. The plan shall also describe the processes used for assessing and improving institutional effectiveness.