CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY OPEN SESSION MARCH 25 Higher Learning Commission Re-accreditation

What is accreditation? Voluntary process of self-regulation and peer review ensuring that higher education institutions provide high-quality education and continuously seek to improve.  Assures the public that UW – Platteville meets clearly communicated criteria and regulations.  Ensures that faculty and students are eligible for federal funding.

Guiding Values of Accreditation 1. Focus on student learning. 2. Education as a public purpose 3. Education for a diverse, technological, globally connected world 4. A culture of continuous improvement 5. Evidence-based institutional learning and self- presentation 6. Integrity, transparency, and ethical behavior and practice

Two Components for Re-accreditation Quality Assurance - verifies that we are meeting threshold standards  Federal Compliance  Assumed Practices  Criteria for Accreditation Quality Initiative – demonstrates that we are committed to continuous improvement

Criterion One Mission (Team Leader: Dr. Christina Curras)  UW – Platteville’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides our operations.  In our educational role, we serve the public and are committed to the public good.  We engage with our external constituencies and community and respond to their needs, as our mission and capacity allow.

Criterion Two Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct (Team Leader: Mr. James Mueller)  UW – Platteville acts with integrity; our conduct is ethical and responsible.  UW-P presents itself clearly and completely to its students and public with regard to programs, requirements, faculty and staff, costs to students and accreditation relationships.

Criterion Three Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support (Team Leader: Dr. Shane Drefcinski)  UW- Platteville provides a high quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.  We fulfill claims we make for an enriched educational environment that includes opportunities for research, community engagement, service learning and economic development.

Criterion Four Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement (Team Leaders: Dr. Colleen McCabe and Dr. Laura Bayless)  UW – Platteville demonstrates responsibility for the quality of our educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and we evaluate their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.

Criterion Five Resources, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness (Team Leader: Dr. Matthew Roberts)  UW – Platteville’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill our mission, improve the quality of our educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities. We plan for the future.

Quality Initiative An institution-wide project designed to suit our present concerns or aspirations.  Can continue an initiative already in progress or achieve a key milestone in the work of a longer initiative  Must have scope and significance QI – oversee implementation and assess success of the Academic Planning Council’s new academic program review process

What do we have to do? Submit written Quality Assurance Arguments (Years 4 and 10)  Articulate claims for how we meet standards  Provide evidence files for all claims made  Evidence files accumulate continuously Carry out Quality Initiative (Years 6 – 9)  Proposed in Years 6-7  Report filed in Year 9 Host Campus Visit (Year 10)  Peer-review team validates claims made in the Assurance Argument, confirms Federal Compliance and Assumed Practices

Separate Timelines

How are we preparing? Applied for and obtained approval to participate in the Open Pathway HLC Steering Committee  Attend HLC Annual Conference  Manage access to HLC’s electronic Assurance System  Develop and enforce timelines  Establish and train Criterion Teams  Oversee Quality Initiative On-going campus communication

Campus Resources HLC Steering Committee  Regular meetings that all are welcome to attend  College liaisons  Dr. Curras (EMS), Dr. Klavins (BILSA), Dr. McCabe (LAE) Communication  College representatives  Presentations to campus groups  Website (  General information  Timelines  Contact us