Campus Response to the Visiting Team Report WASC Accreditation Campus Response to the Visiting Team Report January 2009

What is WASC All About? Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Accreditation Body Promotes the development of sustainable effective educational programs Assures that the institution has met high standards of quality and effectiveness Accreditation is required to qualify for financial aid for students

Outline of Process Proposal submitted C&PR Report submitted C&PR Visit Response to Visit EER Report to be submitted EER Visit to be held June 2006 July 2008 October 2008 January 2009 July 2010 October 2010

C&PR Report Theme 1: Institutional Excellence Programs of Distinction Sense of Community Effective Marketing and Outreach

C&PR Report Theme 2: Teacher-Scholar Model Clear accepted definition that embraces the differences in disciplines Review and reward structure that reflects the model Institutional support (and the challenges therein) for a sustainable model

C&PR Report Theme 3: Student Success Retention and graduation Attainment of learning outcomes at program and university level Positive impact on personal development Expanded educational, career, and other future opportunities

Team Findings: Commendations Creation of Shared Vision Well-integrated Learning by Doing approach Student support outside the classroom Assessment mechanisms in Student Affairs

Team Findings: Institutional Excellence Serious disadvantage created by absence of University Strategic Plan Develop academic plan and strategic plan as soon as possible Resolve tension between centralized and decentralized decision-making Articulate meaning of Programs of Distinction Reach consensus on roles in shared governance

Team Findings: Teacher-Scholar Model Confusion and concern about model Resources are an obstacle to sustainability Variations in expectations in RTP a concern Process for assessment of progress not identified Part-time Faculty not aware of opportunities

Team Findings: Student Success Assessment progress is uneven across campus Some programs likely to have completed assessment process by 2010 GE Assessment process is more complex than necessary Expectations from last visit not met

Team Recommendations: Establish a Strategic Planning Process, to be presented in report in June 2009 Senate and Administration establish clear understandings of roles in strategic planning process Adopt a core set of understandings of the Teacher-Scholar Model Establish a GE Assessment Plan, to be presented in report in June 2009

Our Responses - Planning We assert that: Priorities in line with the campus vision influence the work of University Committees Decision making is being informed by planning processes P&R experience will contribute meaningfully to strategic planning process Academic Plan will be central to University Strategic Plan

Our Responses - Shared Governance We further assert that: Increased cooperation on University committees is strong evidence of progress P&R Process demonstrated increased understanding of the roles of faculty and administration in planning

Our Responses - Teacher-Scholar We agree that we must: Formulate a definition of teacher-scholar Re-consider review and reward practices Prioritize and publicize resources Link T-S with Learning by Doing

Our Responses - Assessment We agree that we must Increase reflection of department efforts and share best practices Begin revised, simplified GE Assessment

Next Steps AA Planning Committee began work in fall; will submit plan to Senate in spring for approval T-S Task Force to begin work in Winter, using White Paper presented at Fall Scholarship Symposium AA Assessment Implementation Task Force to begin work in Winter

Next Steps Revised GE Assessment Process to begin in winter (hopefully) Re-examine RTP Criteria Re-examine Program Review Guidelines

Next Steps Submit to WASC in June 2009: Academic Plan GE Assessment With process for its implementation and the progression to a University Strategic Plan GE Assessment Revised Plan New Learning Outcomes and other evidence of progress