ACCREDITATION Goals: Goals: - Certify to the public and to educational organizations that the school is recognized as an effective institution of learning - Improve the school’s programs and operations that support student learning

WHO CERTIFIES North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA founded in 1895) North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA founded in 1895) –Purpose: Encourage & support cooperative relationships among member schools colleges and universities (over 1000 in 19 states) –The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the NCA grants the accreditation

NCA AREA OF OPERATIONS

FOCUS ASSESS the effectiveness of the scope and quality of student learning ASSESS the effectiveness of the scope and quality of student learning Make recommendations for improvement Make recommendations for improvement ASSIST the institution in carrying out improvements to operational effectiveness ASSIST the institution in carrying out improvements to operational effectiveness

WHY DOES A SCHOOL NEED ACCREDITATION? Assures the community that the purpose and scope of its’ education programs are viable and effective. Assures the community that the purpose and scope of its’ education programs are viable and effective. Validates the integrity of a school’s programs and its’ transcripts Validates the integrity of a school’s programs and its’ transcripts Fosters continual improvement efforts for programs that support student learning Fosters continual improvement efforts for programs that support student learning

ACCREDITATION HELPS FOSTER: Course transfer between institutions Course transfer between institutions Scholarships – often granted only for attendance at accredited schools Scholarships – often granted only for attendance at accredited schools Acceptance of students to programs at the next level Acceptance of students to programs at the next level Influences teacher salary schedule Influences teacher salary schedule

ACCREDITATION EXPECTS: Clear and appropriate mission/goal statements Clear and appropriate mission/goal statements High achievement of students High achievement of students Effective and varied assessments Effective and varied assessments Plans that are aligned to findings Plans that are aligned to findings Ongoing improvement and accountability Ongoing improvement and accountability Total involvement and collaboration Total involvement and collaboration

OUR ASSESSMENT WILL BE BASED ON: Our mission and programs and the HLC’s standards for evidence of: Our mission and programs and the HLC’s standards for evidence of: –Student learning –Governance and administration –Student services –Financial stability –Resources: Faculty, staff, capital, technology, etc..

CONT’D Every process and aspect of institutional operations Every process and aspect of institutional operations Relationships with internal and external constituencies Relationships with internal and external constituencies

STEPS IN THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS Annual reports to the HLC Annual reports to the HLC Multiyear self study process Multiyear self study process –A process for critical self evaluation –Needs to be open, transparent and should engage the entire college and all constituencies –1. Self study 2. Site visit 3. Follow up

EVERYONE’S INVOLVED? All stakeholders All stakeholders –Administration –Staff –Faculty –Students –Alumni –Board –The community

SPECIFIC ROLES Steering Committee Steering Committee Criterion subcommittees Criterion subcommittees –Five criterion which went into effect in 2005 Evaluative writers Evaluative writers Hospitality coordinators Hospitality coordinators

FIVE CRITERION 2. Preparing for the future 3. Student Learning 4. Acquisition, discovery, & applied knowledge 5. Engagement & Service 1. Mission & Integrity

UNDER THE FIVE CRITERIA 21 Core components 21 Core components –Four to five under each criteria Four themes or effectiveness indicators Four themes or effectiveness indicators This provides the structure and back drop for the self study This provides the structure and back drop for the self study

FOUR THEMES The FUTURE oriented organization The FUTURE oriented organization The LEARNING FOCUSED organization The LEARNING FOCUSED organization The CONNECTED organization The CONNECTED organization The DISTINCTIVE organization The DISTINCTIVE organization

FUTURE-ORIENTED Our key theme for criterion two Our key theme for criterion two –Engages in planning –Driven by the mission –Accommodates social and economic change –Focuses on future needs of the constituents –Integrates new technology

FUTURE Visualize what will be different Visualize what will be different –One year from now –Two years from now –Three years from now –Further down the road

1. MISSION AND INTEGRITY The organization operated with integrity to ensure fulfillment of its’ mission through structures and processes that involve the board, administration, faculty, staff, and students The organization operated with integrity to ensure fulfillment of its’ mission through structures and processes that involve the board, administration, faculty, staff, and students

2. PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE The organization’s allocation of resources and its’ processes for evaluation and planning demonstrate its’ capacity to fulfill its’ mission, improve the quality of its’ education, and respond to future challenges and opportunities The organization’s allocation of resources and its’ processes for evaluation and planning demonstrate its’ capacity to fulfill its’ mission, improve the quality of its’ education, and respond to future challenges and opportunities

3. STUDENT LEARNING & EFFECTIVE TEACHING The organization provides evidence of student learning and teaching effectiveness that demonstrates fulfillment of its’ educational mission The organization provides evidence of student learning and teaching effectiveness that demonstrates fulfillment of its’ educational mission

4. ACQUISITION, DISCOVERY, & APPLYING KNOWLEDGE The organization promotes a culture of learning for faculty, administration, staff, and students by fostering and supporting inquiry, creativity, practice, and social responsibility in ways consistent with the mission The organization promotes a culture of learning for faculty, administration, staff, and students by fostering and supporting inquiry, creativity, practice, and social responsibility in ways consistent with the mission

5. ENGAGEMENT & SERVICE The organization identifies its’ constituents and serves them in ways mutually valued The organization identifies its’ constituents and serves them in ways mutually valued

BACK TO CRITERION TWO Four core components Four core components –2a: The organization realistically prepares for a future shaped by multiple societal and economic trends –2b: The organization’s resource base supports its’ educational programs and its’ plans for maintaining and strengthening their quality in the future

TWO CONT’D –2c: The organization’s ongoing evaluation and assessment processes provide reliable evidence of institutional effectiveness that clearly informs strategies for continuous improvement –2d: All levels of planning align with the organization’s mission, thereby enhancing its’ capacity to fulfill that mission

WHAT DO WE DO? Assign teams and tasks Assign teams and tasks Dedicate time Dedicate time Answer criteria questions with short answers or bullet phrases Answer criteria questions with short answers or bullet phrases Find evidence and documentation Find evidence and documentation Examples Examples Consolidate Consolidate Write Write

NEED TEAM WORK To do until we meet: To do until we meet: –Find evidence –What do we expect in the future? –How are we planning to accommodate? –How will we budget to meet expected needs? –How have we modified or changed as a reaction to feedback/assessment

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME Questions/discussion Questions/discussion