1. The Year-one Report: Principles, Issues, Implications
Steven VanderStaay, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Western Washington University

2. Context and Background

3. New Leadership New President New Provost Two New Deans New VPUE/ALO
Leadership Context

4. 2009 Conversation with Provost
“We are a very successful university; why in the world do we have difficulties with accreditation?”

5. Washington’s Higher Education System
Highest college completion rate in the nation.
One of the two most efficient higher education systems in the nation (Lumina Foundation study).
Context of success and excellence

6. WWU
Ranked 1among public, master’s granting universities in the Northwest by U.S. News.
Ranked 54 of “100 Best Values in Education” by Kiplinger’s Magazine.
Context of success and excellence

7. WWU Improvement Raised our retention rate: 85%.
Raised the % of seniors who rate their entire educational experience as good or excellent: 90%.
Raised our Students of Color graduation Rate: Now more than 12% better than the mean of our IPEDS comparison peers.
Context of success and excellence

8. 2008 Self-Study Numerous Concerns 4 Recommendations
Required interim report and evaluation visit
Accreditation

9. Problem Beneath the Problem
Accreditation and Assessment tasks have not been successfully instituted or organized because responsibility for them is too diffuse: No one is in charge.

10. Do you want me to fix that?
You’re in charge.

11. Best Practice Recommendations
Assessment
Must have “support from the top.”
President: “Make it meaningful.”
Chairs: Balance negative with positive.

12. New Practices: Start with a definition
Accreditation
A voluntary system of self-regulation, carried out by peer-review, in which an institution or program is assessed against a set of standards.

13. Make it Meaningful

14. Make it positive

15. Make Responsibility Clear

16. Responsibility Chart

17. Foundational changes

18. New Assessment Structure

19. Faculty Senate Requests
Let us appoint an advisory committee of faculty to assist you.
Give us responsibility for General Education Assessment.
Make accreditation follow the strategic planning process.

20. Increased Faculty Participation
Faculty carry out assessment activities.
Plan the accreditation reports.
Advise re: the writing of the report.
Approve the report.

21. Response from Deans and VPs
Don’t we get a say?
Upshot:
Interim Report had 17 contributors.
Year-1 Report has 37 contributors.

22. Year One Self-Study & Report

23. Presentations on New Standards
President’s Cabinet
University Planning and Resources Council
Faculty Senate
Academic Coordinating Commission
Committee on Undergraduate Education

24. Each presentation began with definition
Accreditation
A voluntary system of self-regulation, carried out by peer-review, in which an institution or program is assessed against a set of standards.

25. Each included positive data

26. Each Posed the Provost’s Question:
Assessment includes
Performance Results
Assessment of Results
Use of Results to Make Program Improvements
Which is our problem?

27. We Framed the Report as an Opportunity
Akido approach
How might we use the new standards to our advantage?

28. Western’s Core Theme Development
100 Conversations
Campaign
University Mission and Strategic Plan
Branding
Core Themes

29. Full Theme Development Process
Comprehensive
Campaign
Listening Campaign
University Mission and Strategic Plan
100 Conversations
Branding Campaign
Draft
UPRC
Campus Community
UPRC
Draft
Themes
Updated University Mission and Strategic Plan
Accreditation
Self-Study
Comprehensive Campaign
Updated Promotional Materials and Web site

30. New Mission
Western Washington University serves the people of the State of Washington, the nation, and the world by bringing together individuals of diverse backgrounds and perspectives in an inclusive, student-centered university that develops the potential of learners and the well-being of communities.

31. New Vision
Western will build a stronger Washington by being an international leader in active learning, critical thinking, and societal problem solving.

32. Strategic Goals Themes
20 Outcomes
50 Indicators

33. Then Ron Visits
“Strategic planning goals and mission core themes are related, but differently-focused enterprises.”

34. Strategic Planning Vs. Accreditation
Comprehensive
Expands Mission
University Plans
Focused
Essence of the Mission
Student Results

35. New Themes Serve State by Expanding Access to Education
Foster Student Success
Strengthen Communities Beyond Campus

36. Draft Revisions 2nd Draft 3 Themes 9 Outcomes 43 Indicators
1st Draft 5 Themes 20 Outcomes 50 Indicators

37. Drafting Process University Planning & Resource Council
University Divisions (outcome development)
Assessment & Accreditation Advisory Committee
University Planning & Resource Council (Approval)

38. Sequence “100 Conversations” (Qualitative data) Strategic Planning
Year One Report (Quantitative Indicators)

39. Western Strengthens Communities
Through Research
. . . Research leads to real- world applications. . .
It will be “easy” to find constituents who can site two or more examples.

40. Year One Self-Evaluation Report
Final Draft
3 Themes
9 Outcomes
43 Indicators
Rubric for Qualitative Assessment of Focus Groups

41. Principles Clarify responsibilities at each level
Takeaways
Clarify responsibilities at each level
Make assessment meaningful
Include positive data
Get leadership support
Be participatory

42. Issues
Takeaways
How do we align but distinguish strategic planning processes from accreditation and assessment processes?
How do we craft a report that is thorough but focused?