Cleveland State University Self Study 2010 North Central Association/Higher Learning Commission Accreditation Gitanjali Kaul and I are co chairs. I’ve provided you with a handout of important information, especially our Self Study website, and a bookmark provided by NCA and the Commission.

The Essentials What this is all about. Why we do this. How we’re doing this. Where we are in the process. What you can do to prepare for visit and become more informed.

What? Re-Accreditation every 10 years. Self Study Report and host Site Visit. North Central Association — one of six regional accreditation associations in the U.S., since 1895. NCA includes institutions in 19 states. The Higher Learning Commission — the official name of the association, adopted in 2000. Higher Education in the US has voluntary accreditation and is conferred by nongovernmental bodies. We (CSU) are affiliated with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, a regional accreditation organization. FYI: There are 6 regional accreditation organizations. We simply refer to the North Central Association as NCA and the HLC as the Commission.

Why? Provides both public certification of acceptable institutional quality and an opportunity and incentive for self-improvement . Critical self-analysis leading to improvement in quality and for consultation and advice from persons from other organizations Allows students at institution to obtain federal funds.

Fundamental Shifts from the previous criteria Inputs Teaching Focus on Past Autonomy Outcomes Learning Focus on Future Connectedness, Engagement & Service

How? Must follow HLC Handbook regarding Report formatting. 5 Criteria 21 Core Components Up to Institution how many points of evidence to use to meet these. 120-150 page report (200+ in reality) Most reports consist of 7 chapters. We have an Introduction, a chapter for each of the 5 Criteria, and a Summary/compliance chapter Intro is underway…must provide institutional history and follow-up to last Self Study First, I must remind you that we did quite well. 2000 Self Study is on our Self Study website provided on handout Two areas did require a progress report, submitted in 2003 and 2005 Both approved by NCA with no reservations

1 - Mission & Integrity The organization operates with integrity to ensure the fulfillment of its mission through structures and processes that involve the board, administration, faculty, staff, and students. The first revolves around the mission which, as we know, must embrace the Chancellor’s new Strategic Plan.

2 - Preparing for the Future The organization’s allocation of resources and its processes for evaluation and planning demonstrate its capacity to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its education, and respond to future challenges and opportunities. Second, we must prove that we have the resources to successfully engage in our mission. Always striving to improve quality of our outcomes and our work—while keeping and eye on the future.

3 - Student Learning and Effective Teaching The organization provides evidence of student learning and teaching effectiveness that demonstrates it is fulfilling its educational mission. Student learning is Job 1, of course. This criterion will affect the Assessment Office, of course, and his committee. But also all who work on the academic side of our University which should be everyone in this room.

4 - Acquisition, Discovery, & Application of Knowledge The organization promotes a life of learning for its faculty, administration, staff, and students by fostering and supporting inquiry, creativity, practice, and social responsibility in ways consistent with its mission. This next criterion affects all personnel in the University.

5 - Engagement and Service As called for by its mission, the organization identifies its constituencies and serves them in ways both value. Finally, we must prove that we reach out to the Cleveland, NE Ohio, Ohio communities.

Where we are… Phase 1 Orientation and Planning September/December 2008 (KICK OFF Sept. 11) Phase 2 Information Gathering and Analysis January 2009 – May 2009 Phase 3 Synthesis and Reporting June 2009 – November 2009 Phase 4 Integration and Dissemination November 2009 – February 2010 Phase 5 Dissemination, Feedback, Revision, and Submission March 2009 – July 2010 NCA requires us to plan our process using 5 phases. (A detailed timeline is provided on our website along with this PowerPoint.) Gitanjali, Marius Boboc (Director of Assessment), and I have been meeting since March in preplanning. In the next 2 months, the Steering and Subcommittees will organize around the core components and examples of evidence. Data are gathered throughout the winter and rough drafts of reports are begun. The reports are fine-tuned and sent to the Lead Writers. Gitanjali and I sift through these and generate a first draft of the whole study and report by end of summer 2009. We submit this to the University community for their—your--revisions and remarks. By January 2010, we submit to the Commission.

Site Visit October 2010 Visiting Team of 6 – 8 Across University to address concerns from report, or support findings Interview faculty, staff, students, community Report to Commission: January 2011? Over the next 12 months, the Commission will tell us when to expect the visiting team. The team leader will be in contact with Gitanjali and me for several weeks prior to the visit. All data and reports will be made available on campus in tangible form as well as electronically. We’re currently building a secure data reporting system in the Assessment Offices. As those of you who have been through accreditation know, you can’t plan for everything. Many of us can expect to be receiving last-second calls for more data or to meet with members of the visiting team.

What you can do. Read and respond to the draft reports when asked, providing corrections, suggestions and additional material as appropriate—focused revisions. Help prepare the campus and community for the team visit. Keep informed about the process. Watch for regular updates. What’s your role? Of course, provide information when asked. You’ll know specifically how you’ll affected soon after the Steering Committee meets. Many of you will be asked to help us revise the reports. We’ll want you to help us prepare your faculty for the site visit. Keep informed about the process by reading emails, bulletins, and of course our website…

KEEP INFORMED http://mycsu.csuohio.edu/committees/selfstudy2010/ “Mission Differentiation” and 3 Centers of Excellence This is up and running and is under constant updating. Right now it’s for internal viewing only, but soon we must make our documents available for external communities.

Questions and Answers r.nordgren@csuohio.edu Extension 7499