SACS Reaffirmation Project Compliance Certification Team Orientation Compliance Certification Report Thursday, September 30, – 11:00AM 209 Main Building – Lexmark Public Room Jennifer Skaggs, Ph.D. SACS Reaffirmation Project Director University of Kentucky

Internal Timeline & Checklist – Year One October 2010 ◦ Review basic SACS documents  Principles of Accreditation  Resource Manual (Team Leaders)  Official SACS website (  Familiarize self with principle(s) and UK’s 5 th year report and 2002 self-study November 2010 ◦ Review examples from other institutions  Be sure to include samples from UK’s 5 th year report & 2002 Self-Study if applicable ◦ Post examples on SharePoint site January 2011 ◦ Specific evidence collection ramps up  Post to SharePoint site  Using Tables and Charts when it’s effective CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/102

Internal Timeline & Checklist – Year One (continued) February 2011 ◦ Work on narrative ramps up ◦ Specificity and illustrations are important March 2011 ◦ Place evidence in targeted PDF form whenever possible  Don’t make the reviewer “hunt” for the information May 2011 ◦ Have narratives prepared in “first draft” form  Have links to evidence embedded into the narrative  Allows selected UK Leadership to be prepared for their SACS Orientation meeting in Atlanta CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/103

Internal Timeline & Checklist – Year One (continued) July 2011 ◦ Polish writing narratives to be “one voice” ◦ Match narratives with links to evidence September 2011 ◦ Complete draft due with YOUR judgment of compliance October 2011** ◦ Initiation of final editing ◦ Address all issues of non/partial compliance ◦ Streamline electronic delivery January 2012 ◦ Leadership Team Review begins CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/104

Narratives The design of the narrative sets expectations, shapes the first impression, and foreshadows the content. Well-structured narrative designs ◦ Avoid the halo/reversed halo effect ◦ Demonstrate understanding of the concept ◦ Organized well with good examples from minutes, catalogs, etc. ◦ Include clear, substantial evidence which addresses each standard directly. ◦ Use/integrate SACS language making it easy to see connections between responses and standards CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/105

Evidence Provides illustration and proof of compliance  Pattern of evidence  Weight of evidence Uses flowcharts, graphs, tables, and other visual tools to:  Present and preview  Integrate  Summarize CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/106

Components of the Compliance Standards 1. The Assertion ◦ Statement of compliance status 2. The Evidence ◦ Testing the evidence ◦ Determining what evidence is present 3. The Analysis ◦ Linking the evidence to the assertion 4. The Conclusion ◦ Restatement of the compliance status CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/107

Examples from Other Institutions Southeastern Louisiana ◦ Combined SACS Campus Website with Compliance Certification Report  Prairie View A & M ◦ Separate SACS Campus Website and Compliance Certification Report   CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/108

Now it’s Your Turn… The institution engages in ongoing, integrated, and institution-wide research- based planning and evaluation processes that (1) incorporate a systematic review of institutional mission, goals, and outcomes; (2) result in continuing improvement in institutional quality; and (3) demonstrate the institution is effectively accomplishing its mission. (Core Requirement 2.5) CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/109

Questions to be asked by Compliance Certification Teams What are the focal points of your assigned requirements/standards? What might be the concerns of off- and on-site reviewers regarding your assigned requirements/standards? What UK policies and/or official procedures apply to these requirements/standards? What is the common practice at UK concerning these requirements/standards? Have recent reviews been conducted concerning these requirements/standards? Are there other policies and procedures needed to document compliance with this topic? Is there other evidence such as records, survey results, reports, etc. needed to document compliance with this topic? CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/1010

What to look for: Look for numbers  … (1) incorporate a systematic review of institutional mission, goals, and outcomes; (2) result in continuing improvement...etc. Look for commas  “The institution engages in ongoing, integrated, and institution-wide research-based planning and evaluation processes…” Look for compound-modifiers  “institution-wide research-based planning and evaluation processes.” CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/1011

Core Requirement 2.5 (brief example) Introduction ◦ SACS expects evidence of written policies and procedures that are being followed-the introduction must include these written policies introducing the evidence of them being followed. ◦ Organization of the IE process Planning ◦ Strategic planning process ◦ Budgeting Feedback Mechanisms ◦ Evaluation  Annual Reports  Personnel Evaluation ◦ Assessment  Unit/Program  Core Learning Areas  University Document Accountability program reviews and specialized accreditations Continuous Quality Enhancement ◦ Student success ◦ Management Structures ◦ Funding Conclusion CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/1012

Questions? CC Team Orientation CC Report 9/30/1013