Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Reaffirmation of Accreditation

Main Components: 1. Compliance Certification Documents the institution’s compliance with each of the standards of accreditation. 2. Quality Enhancement Plan Describes a carefully designed and focused course of action directly related to improving student learning.

Reaffirmation of Accreditation Main Components: 3. Off-site Peer Review A committee that reviews and evaluates the compliance document and judges the institution’s level of compliance with the standards. 4. On-site Peer Review Follows up on issues related to compliance and evaluates the acceptability of the QEP.

Steps 1.Orientation of the leadership team. 2. Preparation and submission of the Compliance Certification. 3. Off-site review of the Compliance Certification. 4. Receive results of the off-site review. May choose to submit a Focused Report in response to the review committee’s findings.

Steps 5. Submit the Quality Enhancement Plan. 6. On-site review of the QEP and areas of non- compliance identified by the off-site review team. 7. Submit to the COC our response to the on-site committee’s report. 8. Commission reviews the findings and takes action on reaffirmation of accreditation.

Leadership Team The university selects a leadership team to direct and manage the reaffirmation process. SACS recommends that the leadership team be few in number, but include at least: Chief Executive Officer Chief Academic Officer At least one faculty member SACS liaison

Compliance Certification The compliance certification document is based upon the institution’s internal analysis and assessment of its compliance with the requirements and standards. The document must include documentation (evidence) to support the assertion of compliance for:   Foundational Principles   Core Requirement   Comprehensive Standards   Federal Requirements

Compliance Certification Foundational Principles – – Integrity and a commitment to quality enhancement Core Requirements – – Establishing an acceptable level of institutional maturity Comprehensive Standards – – Standards of good practice within higher education Federal Requirements – – U.S. Dept. of Education criteria

Compliance Certification The leadership team will appoint a committee to oversee the compliance certification document:  Educational Programs  Enrollment Management  Finance and Business  Governance  Institutional Effectiveness  Institutional Research  Library and Learning Resources  Student Services

Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) The QEP describes a carefully designed and focused course of action that addresses a well-defined topic or issue(s) related to student learning. While many aspects of the accreditation process focus on the past and present, the QEP is forward looking.

Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Institutional Support of the QEP: A consensus that the QEP can result in significant, even transforming, improvements in student learning. A consensus that the QEP can result in significant, even transforming, improvements in student learning. Broad-based institutional participation in its development. Broad-based institutional participation in its development. Careful review of best practices related to the topic or issue(s). Careful review of best practices related to the topic or issue(s).

Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Institutional Support of the QEP: Allocation of adequate human and financial resources to develop, implement, and sustain the QEP. Allocation of adequate human and financial resources to develop, implement, and sustain the QEP. Clear implementation strategies, timelines, and assignment of responsibilities. Clear implementation strategies, timelines, and assignment of responsibilities. A structure for evaluating the impact of the QEP upon student learning. A structure for evaluating the impact of the QEP upon student learning.

Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) The leadership team will appoint a committee to oversee the QEP: those with the greatest knowledge about and interest in the topic those with the greatest knowledge about and interest in the topic  ideas  content  process  methodologies those with planning and assessment expertise those with planning and assessment expertise those responsible for managing and allocating institutional resources those responsible for managing and allocating institutional resources

Concerns Areas commonly flagged by off-site review committees: Faculty Credentials Faculty Credentials QEP not directly related to student learning QEP not directly related to student learning Failure to articulate and assess student learning outcomes Failure to articulate and assess student learning outcomes Failure to provide evidence of a meaningful planning and assessment process Failure to provide evidence of a meaningful planning and assessment process

Timeline June 14, 2007Orientation of the Leadership Teams August 15, 2008Compliance Certification is due November, 2008Off-site review is conducted February 1, 2009Quality Enhancement Plan is due March - April, 2009On-site review is conducted December, 2009Review by COC