Annual Updates
The Annual Update is a simple report describing an institution's progress on each of its Action Projects. It serves to keep AQIP informed about
- The progress an institution is making, based on each Action Project's timelines, goals, and measures
- The problems, snags, delays, and challenges an institution has encountered
- Any outstanding successes and discoveries an institution has made
AQIP will read and provide electronic feedback on each Action Project Annual Update as it is submitted within one of three cycles. The institution should view the Annual Update process as an opportunity to identify areas where it wants to solicit objective input that will be useful as each Action Project is completed or carried forward. The process is not designed to judge, trap, or penalize, but to help the institution stay on course to accomplish the goals it has set for itself.
The Annual Update process allows Commission peer reviewers to identify outstanding practices and gives institutions the opportunity to request help when quality progress is stalled.
An institution can choose freely which Action Projects it wants reviewed when, so long as it submits three different Action Projects for review during the year. Annual Updates can be submitted and AQIP will provide reviews and feedback in three cycles:
- Review and feedback on Action Project updates submitted between January 1 – March 1 by April 30.
- Review and feedback on Action Project updates submitted between March 1 – June 30 by August 31.
- Review and feedback on Action Project updates submitted between June 30 - September 30 by December 31.
Annual Update Questions
The institution's responses should be direct and factual to provide a clear picture of its progress, accomplishments, and challenges.
- Describe the past accomplishments and the current status of this Action Project.
Describe concrete achievements: meetings, data gathered and analyzed, plans made or implemented, changes in processes, and measured results. If the institution hasn't made much progress, explain why things are moving slower than planned.
- Describe how the institution involved people in work on this Action Project.
AQIP wants information about motivation and communication: how this project was kept on the institution's priority list, how general awareness of the importance and progress of the project was maintained, and how those working on it directly were kept active and motivated.
- Describe the institution's next steps for this Action Project.
Be specific about the next critical steps the institution is planning to move the Action Project ahead. If planning is vague or there is no planning at this point, explain why.
- Describe any "effective practice(s)" that resulted from the institution's work on this Action Project.
Share practices (or processes, policies, procedures, or initiatives) that could be adopted or adapted at other institutions. AQIP is most interested in practices that would give value (better educational services, cost-savings, improved morale, more satisfied stakeholders, etc.) to other institutions if they copied them. If the institution's work on this project has little or no value for other institutions, explain why.
- What challenges, if any, still face the institution regarding this Action Project?
This is an opportunity to get constructive, actionable feedback and advice from AQIP's review process. Use this question to specify blocks, gaps, sticking points, or problems. If the institution has already fashioned strategies to deal with any challenges it faces, share both the challenges and strategies for meeting them.
Annual Updates are posted electronically in the Action Project Directory. After an Annual Update is reviewed and the review has been finalized and posted, an e-mail notification is sent to the institution's AQIP Liaison.
