Tips and Strategies for Chairing a Successful Team Visit Debra G. Klinman, Ph.D. Ellie A. Fogarty, Ed.D. Vice Presidents, MSCHE

Overall Approach Keys to a successful Team visit: Analyze the Self-Study within the context of the host institution’s mission Keep in mind that the goal of the Self-Study process is to encourage continuous improvement Be collegial, organized, and prepared Option of bringing your own staff along at your expense

Before the Visit Use the preliminary visit to ensure institutional readiness Communicate with your Team members Approve the preliminary schedule for campus meetings Emphasize preparation and mutual respect Set dates with the institution’s president – consider spring break, holidays, board meetings, professional association meetings Host institution should have one contact person for you to deal with Approve logistical issues during preliminary visit Review team roster for conflict of interest Send welcome note to team members, hold conference call with team members Assign team members by expertise Explain the role of the system or State representative on team, if any

During the Visit Remain flexible and remain in charge Don’t over schedule – you will need to troubleshoot Reach Team consensus about overall institutional compliance with Standards Deliver the oral exit report – don’t mention the Team’s proposal for Commission action Balance - Encourage yet contain conversation and inquiry

After the Visit Meet deadlines sent to you by Commission staff Submit evaluations of Team members Prepare Confidential Brief and submit it only to MSCHE Participate fully as a member of the Committee on Evaluation Reports in Philadelphia Understand that the Team’s proposal for Commission action may change through the deliberations of Committee or the full Commission Draft Team Report is sent to institution to correct for errors of fact Final version of Team Report is sent to institution for an Institutional Response Final version of Team Report is sent to MSCHE by the institution Reports can be sent electronically to evaluationservices@msche.org What issues, if any, should the institution address prior to the 5th-year PRR? Focus on Standards – what are the priorities, what seems to be most pressing, urgent for the institution? Consider the overlap of Standards – attending to one area may bring along another area Committee and full Commission members were not on the ground with the Team – be sure to refer to supporting evidence in Team Report and speak confidently about evidence found or not found during the visit when you present to the Committee on Evaluation Reports

Throughout the Process Be prepared to handle unusual situations Remember that you can always contact the host institution’s MSCHE liaison with any questions or concerns Team dynamics Emergencies Absent team members Unsolicited comments and materials

Questions? Thank you for your service to peer evaluation in the Middle States region