Charge
The UAAC fosters a culture of assessment that supports UM’s continuous improvement toward its institutional objectives. To accomplish this, the UAAC:
- Supports the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) in meeting accreditation obligations and provides input into how the University can best monitor the assessment of:
- student learning outcomes; and
- non-academic sector contributions to institutional objectives.
- Provides feedback to the Office of Strategic Planning and Implementation on efforts to continuously improve and integrate assessment into planning and implementation activities across all UM sectors:
- Monitors processes that support progress on institution-level and sector-level projects outlined in UM’s Annual Playbook; and
- Monitors progress on projects that have received OSPI-managed institutional funding awards (e.g., Flagship Fund).
- Acts as a body of ambassadors in keeping campus apprised of accreditation and assessment activities.
Members
Permanent Members
- Pope Ashworth, Director, Office of Institutional Research
- Amy Ratio-Parks, Associate Director, Office of the Provost
- Claudine Cellier, Director, Internal Communications and Employee Engagement (Past ALO)
- John DeBoer, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Office of the Provost (ALO and Chair)
- Jeanne Loftus, Director of University Strategic Planning and Implementation
- Brian Reed, Associate Vice President for Student Success
Annual Members 2026-2027
Shared Governance Leadership
- Alex Metcalf, Faculty Senate Chair-Elect, Associate Professor, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation
- Lucille Vanek, Staff Senate, Student Support Coordinator, Davidson Honors College
- Lane Allen, Associate Students of the University of Montana, Vice President
Rotating Membership
Three-year Terms
- David Allen, Assistant Professor and Assessment Coordinator, Pharmacy Practice (2028)
- Megan Bilant, Director of Clinical Experiences & Educator Licensure (2027)
- Paul Lukacs, Interim Vice President for Research and Creative Scholarship (2029)
- Valerie Moody, Department Chair and Professor, School of Integrated Physiology and Athletic Training (2029)
- Lauren Fern, Interim Dean, Missoula College (2028)
- Kate Zoellner, Assessment Coordinator, Reference & Instruction Librarian, Mansfield Library (2027)
Updated September 15, 2026