Announcement of an Exempt Purchase

ALEKS On-line Placement Assesment Program. This program tests students to assess their area of competence and then directs them along an individualized instructional pathways. Access to this program will also allow students to purchase additional learning modules at their discretion. Department administrator will receive: scoring and electronic reporting of assessment reults; consultation regarding transfer of data from the ALEKS Corporation to department database; on-campus training and WebEx training; customized online portal for access to ALEKS Assessment and Learning Modules; implementation consultation through Covariant Consulting and/or MHHE for initial placemenmt implementation; and ongoing customer support to students, faculty and administrators.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for periodicals, books, subscriptions, database licenses, and other publications procured for use by a university library or academic department, except for expenditures related to procuring textbooks for student use or materials for resale or rental. (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b)(5)) Our department has been using this service for years and we feel that it significantly strengthens our educational program through this product. The learning modules and assessments bolster our students preparedness for our curriculum.