SACS Review and WCU Training and Orientation Thursday, February 24, 2005 Carol Burton, Director, SACS Review

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - SACS 785 member institutions of higher education (includes private, public, junior colleges and universities) Eleven southernmost states, Latin America and the Caribbean Voluntary process/federal involvement Process AND product Integrity AND commitment Self regulation AND self-government

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - SACS Commission on Colleges oversight Emphasis on institutional assessment of effectiveness related to: ~ Mission ~ Compliance with common standards ~ Enhancing quality of student learning ~ Programs and services ~ Evaluation and continuous assessment Accountability to external and internal groups

SACS Review - Overview Review Process Compliance Certification QEP Off/On Site Teams

Review Process - Compliance Core Requirements – institutional mission and effectiveness; educational programs; faculty. Comprehensive Standards – governance; degree programs; faculty credentials; library and learning resources; student affairs; physical and financial resources. Federal Requirements – HE Amendments, recruitment; academic policies; publications.

Compliance – Core Requirements Twelve Basic Qualifications Degree-granting power Governing Board CEO Mission Effectiveness General Education Quality Enhancement (etc., see pp )

Compliance Comprehensive Standards Institutional mission Institutional governance and effectiveness Administration Assessment Educational programs graduate undergraduate post-baccalaureate professional Faculty (credentials) Library/learning resources Student affairs Student services Distance education Resources physical financial (see pp )

Compliance – Federal Requirements (see p. 31) Quality indicators (job placement, state licensing exam rates, course completion data) Curriculum relevance Quality control of public documents Student complaints Recruitment materials HE Amendments

Examples – Compliance Certification (see handout)

Quality Enhancement Plan (see handout) QEP University Mission Strategic Planning Assessment

Quality Enhancement Plan cont’d Complement strategic planning and institutional mission Enhance student learning Focused and futuristic Reflect current best practices Capitalize on university strengths and weaknesses Engage university community 75 (+25 reference) Pages

Evaluation of the QEP Development and topic selection Capability for initiation, sustenance, and resource allocation Assessment University community involvement * * * * * * *

SACS Review – Committees (see handouts)

SACS Review - Committees Leadership Team QEP Committee Compliance Committee

SACS Peer Review Process External Review Three Stages

1. Off-Site Review Committee Determines institutional compliance with core requirements, comprehensive standards, and federal requirements; Does NOT review QEP; Reviews cluster of compliance certification reports by institution type; Convenes in November, 2006.

2. On-Site Review Committee Reviews QEP; Reviews all core requirements and comprehensive standards found non- compliant; Responsible for the reaffirmation report submitted to the Commission on Colleges; Visit institution in late spring, 2007.

3. Commission on Colleges Review Reviews institutional and on-site committee reports ; Determines reaffirmation status; Creates follow-up/further action report if necessary; Convenes in June and December, 2007.

SACS Review - Abbreviated Timeline June 13, 2005…SACS Orientation, Atlanta December 3-6, 2005…SACS Annual Meeting, Atlanta August 15, 2006…Compliance Certification due December 1, 2006…QEP due March – April, 2007…On-Site Team Visit

Carol Burton, Director, SACS Review 560 H. F. Robinson Administration Bldg. Western Carolina University /3019