About IE

Mission

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness (IE) actively engages the campus community in the continuous improvement of student learning, support services, and administrative operations by providing leadership to facilitate assessment practices and data-driven decision-making.

Vision

To be considered by the UofL community as the primary institutional assessment leader, recognized as a supportive, responsive, and productive office that provides information, research, and analysis of the highest quality. IE will strive to facilitate the integration of accountability, assessment, and planning to maximize the data-driven decision-making necessary for institutional effectiveness at a nationally recognized metropolitan research university.

Values

• Collaboration
• Continuous improvement
• Integrity
• Quality assessment
• Transparency

Our team

Katie Partin, PhD, Director

• Katie Partin, PhD, is the Director in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (IE). Katie is responsible for national survey and learning assessment administration for the university, as well as survey administration related to job placement and educational plans. Additionally, she assists offices across campus with survey design, student learning outcome (SLO) development, and statistical analyses. Prior to IE, Katie has worked in various areas of higher education, to include student activities, transfer services, financial aid, and first year programming. Katie is an alumnae of UofL with both an MEd and PhD in Counseling and Personnel Services (specializing in College Student Personnel). Katie is also an adjunct professor in the College Student Personnel and the Higher Education Administration graduate programs in the College of Education and Human Development at UofL.

Emily Spoden, M.Ed., Coordinator

• Emily Spoden is the Coordinator in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (IE). She is the lead analyst in IE who designs, administers, and analyzes university-wide surveys using eXplorance Blue. In addition, she works directly with university faculty & staff to conduct research on a variety of institutional concerns and issues. Prior to IE, Emily worked as an Academic Advisor, and as an Admissions Counselor at UofL. She received her Masters of Education degree in Student Affairs Practice from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from Virginia Tech. 

Theo Barthes, M.A., Program Coordinator Senior

• Theo Barthes, M.A. is the Program Coordinator Senior in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (IE). Theo is responsible for providing assistance in the SACSCOC accreditation process for IE and assists with the coordination of the university-wide annual outcomes assessment process. Theo is responsible for coordinating the procedural updates, collecting reports and materials, tracking documents, reviewing reports, and providing relevant feedback to the departments. Additionally, he assists in the update, design, administration, and reporting of internally-developed university-wide surveys. Prior to IE, Theo worked as an Administrative Assistant in the office of Advancement Services at UofL. Theo is an alumnus of UofL with both a BA and MA in English.