UPRM Self-Study for MSCHE 2005-2015 Presentation to Arts and Sciences Faculty November 26, 2013 10:30 am

ACCREDITATION Significant way that colleges and universities can give the public confidence that they provide a quality education.

Benefits of Accreditation In order to be eligible for Federal student financial aid, students must attend an institution accredited by an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  The Federal government requires that institutions be accredited in order to be eligible for many Federal grants and funds. State governments often require that students attend accredited institutions in order to sit for state licensure examinations.

Benefits Employers often require that certain employees hold degrees from accredited institutions State governments often require that institutions be accredited in order to offer state student financial aid or receive other state grants and funds. Colleges and universities often accept transfer credits only from institutions accredited by an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Middle States (MSCHE) One of the oldest accreditors in the United States and is one of the accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It accredits colleges and universities primarily in its region: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

MSCHE MSCHE- “. . . professional association devoted to educational improvement through accreditation” (Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education, p. iv). “The accreditation process is intended to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of higher education, making it worthy of public confidence and minimizing the scope of external control” (p.iv). Characteristics of Excellence highlights that to obtain accreditation the institution needs to meet specific criteria.

Criteria for MSCHE Accreditation that it has a mission appropriate to higher education; that it is guided by well-defined and appropriate goals, including goals for student learning; that it has established conditions and procedures under which its mission and goals can be realized; that it assesses both institutional effectiveness and student learning outcomes, and uses the results for improvement; that it is accomplishing its mission and goals substantially; that it is organized, staffed, and supported so that it can be expected to continue to accomplish its mission and goals; that it meets the Requirements of Affiliation and accreditation standards of the MSCHE (Characteristics of Excellence, 2006, p. iv)

Self Study Advance institutional self-understanding and self improvement Submit written report to the established MSCHE team The basis for on-site evaluation Lead the report following a timeline with deadlines Managed by the Steering committee Analyze data with steering committee and edit reports Submit complete project to the Chancellor who submits it to the Community at large and to MSCHE

Middle States Steering Committee Institutional Context STANDARD STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER #1- Mission and Goals Betsy Morales Caro- Arts and Sciences #2 and #3- Planning, Institutional Resources Mercedes Ferrer- Engineering #4 and #5- Leadership, Administration Noel Artiles- Engineering #6- Integrity Halley Sánchez- Arts and Sciences #7- Institutional Assessment  Cristina Pomales- Engineering

Middle States Steering Committee Educational Effectiveness STANDARD STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER #8- Student Admissions and Retention Sonia Bartolomei- Engineering #9- Student Support Services Omell Pagán- Engineering #10- Faculty Gayle Griggs- Arts and Sciences #11- Educational Offerings Jorge González- Agricultural Sciences #12- General Education Mabel Ortiz- Arts and Sciences #13- Related Educational Activities Pedro Vásquez- Arts and Sciences #14- Assessment of Student Learning Bernadette Delgado- Arts and Sciences

Middle States Steering Committee Committee is named to complete a re-accreditation self- study report for the Middle States Commission Higher Education and to conduct a self-study. Each chair of standard has a subcommittee, which includes a student 2015 (Fall)- Hand in Self Study 2016 (Spring)- Visit

Middle States Steering Committee: Roles and Responsibilities Request and gather required UPRM documents and information for accreditation. Create and administer questionnaires for entire UPRM community Conduct focus groups, interviews, etc. Analyze all received data for self study report Create self study reports by standard, which includes findings, strengths, areas needing improvement, and commendations Write the Self Study Report to document data findings as requested by MSCHE Host and organize the Spring 2016 MSCHE visit and submit any additional information requested/needed.

TIMELINE: MSCHE Spring 2013-2016 Create task forces for each standard Create timeline for committee activities Develop draft for the self-study design Begin with questionnaire development Summer 2013 Polish Self Study Design and complete Questionnaire development Fall 2013 August-Submit the Design for the self-study November-Publish arrangements for Prep visit Questionnaire Distribute questionnaires (Gather Data)

TIMELINE: MSCHE Spring 2013-2016 Questionnaire Follow-up Work in Groups (no deliverables) Data analysis and reflection Attend Self-study institute, by invitation Possible visit to approve the design Fall 2014 Develop individual task-force Self-Study Report (first draft)

TIMELINE: MSCHE Spring 2013-2016 Committee completes final draft for task force reports Summer 2015 Submit Task Force Reports to UPRM (June 30th) July- Integrate Task Force Reports into the Final Institutional Report Fall 2015 August –September-Steering Committee Editing report September-October –Professional Editor Mid-October -Submit Institutional Self Study to Chancellor November-Submit Final Report

TIMELINE: MSCHE Spring 2013-2016 Middle States Team Visits Entire community needs to be included

Summary Inform the UPRM community that we are active and are working 2 ½ years before the visit Create awareness and consciousness Familiarize community with our need for information via questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, etc. Involve the entire community: Professors, non teaching personnel, students, administration - EVERYONE!

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