Presentation to the SLIS Community on Accreditation Planning Dr. Kimberly B. Kelley Dean, SLIS February 11, 2008

Topics for This Evening’s Forum  Status of SLIS progress on achieving compliance with the American Library Association Standards  Discussion of SLIS Progress To Date  Proposed next steps to achieve accreditation in March, 2009  Q&A

3 Some Terminology  Committee on Accreditation The body responsible for deciding on whether a program receives accreditation every seven years  Office of Accreditation, American Library Association (ALA) The office that is the liaison between the Committee on Accreditation (COA) and the programs  The Program Presentation  The Evaluation Review Panel  The Evaluation Review Report  Conditional Accreditation is “a status assigned to a program that must make changes to comply with the 1992 Standards for Accreditation of Master’s Programs in Library and Information Studies to enable accreditation beyond the date specified by the Committee on Accreditation (COA). Please note that these programs are fully accredited under the Standards.” ( verbatim, ALA Web site:

4 COA Standards (there are six)  Standard I: Mission, goals and objectives  Standard II: Curriculum  Standard III: Faculty  Standard IV: Students  Standard V: Administration and Financial Support  Standard VI: Physical Resources and Facilities

5 Standards with Areas for Improvement for SLIS  Standard I: Mission, Goals and Objectives  Standard II: Faculty  Standard III: Curriculum  Standard VI: Physical Resources and Facilities

ALA-COA Concerns for Standard I: Mission, Goals and Objectives  Rewrite the mission, goals and objectives to “form the essential frame of reference for evaluation” of the entire program,  Give special attention to writing program objectives “in terms of educational results to be achieved” and,  Include the School’s constituencies in all planning activities.

Progress on Standard I: Mission, Goals and Objectives  SLIS is undergoing a comprehensive planning process including: Developed new values, vision, mission, and goals and objectives for the master’s program Devising a working plan for longer-term planning in CUA-SLIS (three year plan) Established an Advisory Committee for SLIS Created a Web page to share progress/gain feedback from constituents ( Preparing Exit, Alumni, and Employer surveys to ensure comprehensive stakeholder input. Developing a technology strategic plan.

ALA-COA Concerns Standard II: Curriculum  The School must develop a “curriculum…based on goals and objectives” that “evolves in response to a systematic planning process”,  Ensure that the School “responds to the needs of a rapidly changing technological and global society”,  “Construct coherent programs of study”,  Strengthen the technical component of the program,  Include the School’s constituencies in all planning activities

Progress on Standard II: Curriculum  Re-established curriculum committee for the School  Reviewing four core courses course objectives and content based on revised program goals and objectives.  Reviewing/refreshing/revising SLIS “tracks”  Reactivated the Technology Committee for the School.  Technology survey underway to ensure curriculum is “responsive” and to help make improvements  Continuing to develop the SLIS Information Commons  Reviewing and updating advising procedures/materials/process  Systematic plan to include all constituencies in curriculum changes/updates (as they occur)  Reviewing core courses to ensure appropriate technologies are covered.

ALA-COA Concerns Standard III: Faculty  “The technology component is particularly inadequate. A comprehensive approach is needed to rectify this situation.”  Write program objectives that provide a frame of reference and then determine if faculty can accomplish the program objectives and have the specialized knowledge to cover the program content.  Assure the Committee that the faculty are “sufficient in number and in diversity to carry out the major share of the teaching, research and service activities required for a program wherever and however it is delivered.”  Allay the concern of the Committee that the faculty does not have the experience to “demonstrate skill in academic planning and evaluation.”  Include the School’s constituencies in all planning activities.

Progress on Standard III: Faculty  Four new faculty hired (all have strong technology skills) – all faculty of School working in concert to improve technology infrastructure and curriculum offerings  Developing expertise in technology planning  Two more faculty are being recruited Technology skills to enhance teaching & learning Add to current faculty strengths – solidify support for curriculum  Hiring is also to address the COA expressed concern related to “diversity” and “number”

Progress on Standard III: Faculty  Upgrading technology infrastructure ($94K infusion of support from CUA)  Technology committee addressing issues for on and off campus faculty support with the university’s IT operation  Hired two support personnel for off-site locations (LoC and VA)  Reviewing core courses to ensure appropriate technologies are covered.  Clarifying scope of tracks with heavy technology component

Standards IV: Students and V: Administration and Financial Support  COA did not express concerns with these two standards.  Working on developing the Program Presentation to ensure SLIS will continue to meet the COA standards.

ALA-COA Concerns Standard VI: Facilities  The School must demonstrate that the physical facilities “provide a functional environment for students and faculty”,  The School must explain more clearly why it is non-ADA compliant,  The School must demonstrate how the Information Commons contributes to the technical knowledge of the students,  The School must include its constituencies in all planning activities.

Progress on Standard VI: Facilities  Systematic upgrades to Marist Hall classrooms, part of the campus-wide upgrade initiative  Upgrades to the Information Commons in Marist Hall  Upgrades to the other SLIS computer laboratory facilities under review  Technology Committee’s strategic planning process provides framework for continual evaluation, planning, and upgrades for SLIS  Marist upgraded to be completely wireless accessible

Progress on Standard VI: Facilities  Marist is not fully ADA compliant. Cost- prohibitive to upgrade the building  Therefore: Classes for disabled students held in other, ADA compliant buildings Information Commons and the first floor of Marist Hall are ADA compliant Examining other facilities for housing SLIS on campus (longer term) Establishing a working group on facilities to recommend a long term plan Strong movement to blended and alternative formats to lessen reliance on Marist Hall

Next Steps  Complete planning process including developing the three-year Working Plan for SLIS.  Finish curricular review of the four core courses in light of the new goals and objectives for the program.  Continue to upgrade the technology infrastructure and facilities.  Continue and complete as much of the hiring process as feasible.  Finish the Program Presentation due in January, 2009  Visit by the Evaluation Review Panel (ERP) March 23/24,  Continue development of SLIS Accreditation Website.  Continue updates in the Dean’s Dialogue (blog)

Questions or Suggestions? Thank you