Define the problem in the first phase of the CIP. The success of the current plan is examined in relation to practices and procedures. In a community college setting, a CIP team may evaluate the curriculum, student success or a particular office that received low ratings by students and other users. This part of the plan may involve data collection or student and faculty surveys. Gathering data about students directly involved in the program is crucial to understanding the root cause of the issue.
The next step in the CIP is to collect all of the data in the assessment phase and make a plan of action. If students consistently score low in a certain degree program or there is a low retention rate, the data may indicate the need for updated curriculum. This phase allows team members to collaborate in the creation of a new curriculum for the program.
The implementation phase is just that: implementation. This is where new curriculum is put into place, new practices are tested out and new assessments are given, in order to produce desired results. In a community college, where low program retention rates were found, a plan to add different courses to the degree may be effective. This gives students more flexibility in choosing a concentration area. Certain courses may be deleted in this phase to make room for new courses.
Evaluation refers to the results that were produced by the work done in the first three phases. During this phase, more data is collected through surveys or research. This is not the final step in the plan though. The CIP is cyclical and will keep redefining the needs of the program. The data from the evaluation phase is taken into a new assessment phase. Results will be compared to the initial set of data gathered, in order to evaluate what needs to be done next. The process will continue with more design and implementation. In the community college setting, where retention rates are important, the new data will indicate if the improvement was successful. Hopefully, even better results will be made the next time.