Accreditation Liaison Officers (ALOs) MSCHE Annual Conference December 2011 Robert A. Schneider Senior Vice President

Who is the ALO? The primary contact with MSCHE staff A resource to the institution on accreditation issues Someone with time, knowledge and authority to engage with president and others on campus on accreditation Not the president and not a consultant

ALO roles and responsibilities For Commission guidelines see: The Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) Role and Responsibilities http://www.msche.org/documents/6B---5-ALO-guidelines-122109.pdf For resources see: ALO Orientation e-Packet http://www.msche.org/publications/ALO-Orientation-ePacket11.pdf

What does an ALO need to know? Commission Schedule Accreditation Events and Cycles Annual Reporting Requirement (IP) Follow-Up Reporting Requirements Handbooks contents Policies, Guidelines & Procedures MSCHE Website Contents ALO Newsletter Workshops, Institutes, Conferences

Commission Meetings Full Commission meets early March, late June, and mid-November Takes action on recommendations following from Self-Study Evaluations, Periodic Review Reports, Follow-up Reports and Visits Actions communicated within 30 days of meetings

Commission Schedule Committee meetings Self-Study Evaluations: 3 x year Periodic Review Reports: 4-5 x year (October) Follow-up Reports: 3 x year Substantive Change Requests: every other month (February, April, etc.) with deadline the first of the month before (January, March)

Accreditation Events and Cycles Self-study evaluation and visit: every ten years (except newly accredited: five years after first accreditation) Periodic Review Report: five-year interim report between self-studies: always due June 1 Annual Institutional Profile: due in April of each year

Annual Institutional Profile Offers evaluation teams and staff a snapshot of an institution's structure, operations, finances, and accreditation status; Enables staff to monitor an individual institution's compliance with selected aspects of accreditation standards;

Annual Institutional Profile Updates the on-line member Directory of member and candidate institutions and the Statement of Accreditation Status; Provides the Commission with a basis for assessing dues; and Assists staff in developing region-wide aggregate data.

Annual Institutional Profile http://www.msche.org/?Nav1=INSTITUTIONS&Nav2=IP&Nav3=INTRODUCTION

Follow-up Reports Can be requested as result of self-study evaluation, periodic review report, or previous follow-up report Progress report Monitoring report Supplemental report

Follow-up Reports See Guidelines: Follow-Up Reports and Visits http://www.msche.org/documents/6B---4-Follow-up-reports-and-visits-guidelines-122109.pdf

Know your handbooks!! Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education: Requirements of Affiliation and Standards for Accreditation Handbook for Periodic Review Reports Self-Study: Creating a Useful Process and Report Team Visits: Conducting and Hosting an Evaluation Visit

Handbooks All available on our website, http://www.msche.org/publications.asp Can also be ordered at the website http://www.msche.org/myche/public/publications/publicationorderform.aspx

Handbooks Check handbooks for information prior to contacting the Commission staff with questions Self-studies are to be 100 pp single-spaced, 200 pp double-spaced

Policies (categories) General Accreditation Policies, Guidelines, and Procedures The Peer Review Process Institutional Programs and Services Public and Government Relationships and Communication

Policies (categories) International Programs Commission Administrative Procedures Complaints, Comments, and Appeals

Policies See Policies, Guidelines & Procedures index: http://www.msche.org/?Nav1=POLICIES&Nav2=INDEX

Policies of special note Substantive Change Policy: http://www.msche.org/documents/6B---6-SubstantiveChange_4_.pdf Substantive Change Processes: http://www.msche.org/documents/Substantive-Change-Processes-New-Version-January-2011.pdf Substantive Change Visits to Branch Campuses and Additional Locations: http://www.msche.org/documents/P2.8-SubChangeVisits.doc

Policies of Special Note Schedule of Dues and Fees: http://www.msche.org/documents/P1.8-Dues4111[1].doc Selection of Peer Evaluators: http://www.msche.org/documents/6B---3-Selection-of-Peer-Evaluator-guidelines-122109.pdf

Policies of Special Note Contracts by Accredited and Candidate Institutions For Education-Related Services: http://www.msche.org/documents/P3.2-ContractsforServices[1].doc

Special note regarding policies They change! Be sure to check the website for most up-to-date Changes due to HEOA, etc.

MSCHE website

www.msche.org Institutions Alpha order: all candidate and accredited institutions Basic directory information, institutional website link, date of accreditation and latest reaffirmation Statement of Accreditation Status and Detail View

ALO Newsletter MSCHE ALO Newsletter is published five times each year: Early Fall, Early Winter, Winter, Spring, and Summer. ALO Newsletters are also archived on our website: http://www.msche.org/news_newsletter.asp

MSCHE events Self-Study Institute (invitation) Periodic Review Report Workshop (invitation) Chairs and Evaluators Workshop (invitation) Annual conference Assessment Workshops Planning and Assessment Workshops

Final tips Check the website regularly Check with the president’s office upon receipt of MSCHE communications to make sure they receive prompt attention Keep up with due dates for reports Communicate with constituencies as needed Get to know your Commission liaison!