1. SACS Reaffirmation Robert B. Bradley Ruth Feiock: SACS Liaison
March 2014
Chairs and Deans Meeting
THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

2. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Reaffirmation: Reminder
Accreditation reaffirmed by SACSCOC every ten years (our regional accrediting )
Why is it important?
Federal funding
Student Financial Aid
Federal Contracts and Grants
Reputation
State Requirements
Commitment to higher education
Desire to continuously improve quality

3. What is Involved in Compliance Certification Report?
Core Requirements
12 requirements, all of which must be met
Comprehensive Standards
- 66 components
Federal Requirements
- 12 components
94 Specific Components plus applicable policies and guidelines

4. Accreditation Review Involves three reviews
1. Off-site peer review – November 2013
2. On-site peer review – March 2014
Tallahassee;
FSU Panama City, Florida;
FSU Panama, Republic of Panama;
Sarasota, Asolo Conservatory
3. Review by Commission’s Board of Trustees - December 2014

5. Where Are We In the Process?

6. SACS Compliance Documents Were Submitted – September 2013
Digital Submission
Text of more than 500 pages of narrative
Approximately 3,500 associated files of documentation (each hyperlinked to narrative on the relevant standard)
Drew upon university data files and systems covering topics such as effectiveness, student courses, faculty member vitae

7. Off-Site Peer Review Conducted November 2013
Twelve Member Committee lead by:
Provost Bert Bach,
East Tennessee State University
SACS Staff Leader – Dr. Cheryl D. Cardell, Vice President, SACSCOC
Other members include, but not limited to: Provost, Dean of Libraries, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life, Vice Presidents for Finance (two), Chancellor of Medical School, Faculty Member, and Dean

8. Off-Site Committee Identified Six Deficiencies
Information on state financial audit was not available (This is always late)
Statement on non-dismissal of BOT members was not explicit (This requires a short note)
Sample size was too small for Institutional effectiveness of Academic and Student Support Services
Sampling method for Institutional Effectiveness of General Education was not specific enough
The qualifications of 11 faculty members was questioned
The use of evaluation of faculty was not documented adequately, especially with regard to student learning

9. By Way of Comparison
In 2004, 13 deficiencies were identified by the off-site committee for FSU
It is not uncommon to receive 20 or more deficiencies

10. Conducted On-Campus Visits & Consultations
December:
Dr. Charles A. Taylor
Vice President, SACSCOC (assigned FSU)
January
Dr. David R. Hager Sr., Chair, Emeritus Professor of Higher Education and International Studies
Old Dominion University
Chair of FSU On-Site team

11. Subsequent Submittals
A Focused Report addressing each of the six deficiencies identified by the Off-Site Committee
Updated Institutional Summary
Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) – “Think FSU”
Summaries of major elements of
FSU Panama City,
FSU Panama and
FSU at Asolo Conservatory (Sarasota)

12. What is Next?

13. Coming! March 2014 Visit to Off-Campus Instructional sites
Visit to FSU Panama: last week
March 24, 2014
Visit to FSU Panama City
Visit to FSU at Asolo Conservatory
March 25-27, 2014
On-site visit: Tallahassee
Jul - Sep 2014
Response to the Report of the Reaffirmation Committee due, if needed [5 months after visit]
December 2014
Reaffirmation decision by Commission

14. FSU SACSCOC Reaffirmation Committee Roster
SACSCOC On-Site Team
FSU SACSCOC Reaffirmation Committee Roster
2014
Dr, David Hagar, Chair
Emeritus Professor Higher Education and International Studies
Old Dominion University
Dr. Betsy Brown
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
North Caroline State University
Dr. Lowell Davis
Assistant Vice Chancellor Student Success
Western Carolina University
Dr. Stephen Harmon
Associate Professor and Director, Division of Learning Technologies
Georgia State University
Dr. Renu Khator
President
University of Houston
Dr. Valerie Paton
Associate Professor, College of Education
Texas Tech University
Dr. J. Worth Pickering
Assistant Vice President for Assessment
Dr. Sheryl Shoemaker
Dean, Graduate School
Louisiana Tech University
Observer
Dr. Gary Brown
Senior Fellow, Association of American Colleges & Universities
Portland State University
QEP Evaluator
Dr. Charles Taylor
Vice President
SACSCOC

15. The Committee Will Examine All Aspects of the University

16. What Will Be the Focus of the On-Site Team?
Detailed Consideration of the QEP
Examination of the Focused Report
Follow up to 21 Standards and Requirements of Specific Interest to Federal Officials
Investigation of Any Elements of the Compliance Report About Which they have questions
Reports on Each Off-Campus Site

17. What Will They Do During Their Visits?
Work out of the Turnbull Center and Hotel Duval
Conduct a series of meetings with groups and individuals on campus, as needed
Examine files and information about which they have questions
Participate in no socializing or receptions
Write Their Report and Make Recommendations for Consideration by the SACSCOC

18. What Will They Consider During Their Meetings?
Governance and Administration
Compliance with SACSCOC policies
Personnel Issues
Physical Facilities
Library Resources
Technology
Finances
Access to Student Support Programs
Institutional Effectiveness
Detailed Inquiry into Distance Learning
Extensive Review of the QEP

19. Common Problem Areas Orderly processes and governance practices
Each course is taught by faculty with acceptable qualifications with the appropriate evidence
Number of full-time faculty is adequate to support mission and ensure quality
Complete set of student learning and program outcomes and their use for education, administration, support, research and service (Institutional Effectiveness)
Evidence of on-going, integrated and institution wide research based planning and evaluation
College level general education competencies
General education component meets criteria
Distance Education meets all criteria
Off campus Instructional Programs meet all criteria
Acceptable Quality Enhancement Plan with funding

20. When Will We Find Out Results?
Exit conference: report recommendations with institution’s leadership
Possible: Response to the Visiting Committee Report if one or more recommendations made with due date in transmittal letter
Vote of Commission in December 2014

21. What Should You Do Before the Visit?

22. Be Flexible In the Face of Changing Circumstances

23. General Information Know the status of your faculty files
Original transcripts are located in the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement and scanned into NOLIJ
CVs are located in FEAS
Evaluations are maintained in the department or college.
Know university policies
Some may be found at policies.fsu.edu.
Be Available for visits With Onsite Team March 25 – 26
In general, be positive and respond directly to the question asked.
Institutional Effectiveness – under scrutiny

24. QEP Evaluator Lunch with Deans and Department Chairs
Working Lunch scheduled with deans and separately department chairs is still under consideration by on-site team
March 26, 2014
Turnbull Center

25. Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans
Institutional Effectiveness
Academic Program Coordination
Faculty
Credentials
Evaluation
Development
Governance
General Education
Faculty Adequacy
Student Support Services
Substantive Change Policy
Quality Enhancement Plan
Other FSU policies

26. Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans
Institutional Effectiveness
Located in the university’s institutional effectiveness portal
Student learning outcomes identified by faculty
Student learning outcomes reviewed by faculty, dean’s office, and Planning and Programs
Results used to make continuous improvement – be able to cite specific examples
Academic Program Coordination
Coordinators are qualified to provide curricular oversight (typically based on highest degree)
Often, the department chair or program director is the academic program coordinator

27. Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans
Faculty Competence
Primary consideration to highest degree earned and justify document qualifications
Faculty Evaluation
regularly performed, uses student feedback
Faculty Development
Ongoing professional development
Faculty Role in Governance
Faculty responsible for student learning and program outcomes
Curriculum

28. Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans
General Education
General Education defined by the Florida Legislature
General Education Competencies identified by the UPC
Courses in which students master these competencies are identified by the UPC
Assessments and results are entered into the Institutional Effectiveness Portal
Improvements are reflected in curriculum modifications
Faculty Adequacy
All programs have adequate faculty based on national norms
Standard relates to academic programs, not majors

29. Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans
Academic and Student Support Services
Advising
Financial Aid
Registration
Library
Technology
Career Counseling
Health
Tutoring

30. Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans
Off-Campus Sites
Controlled by the main campus following campus policies
Academic degree programs are identical
Faculty meet same credentialing requirement
Faculty evaluation uses same standards

31. Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans
Substantive Change Policy
SACSCOC requires notification and approval of certain changes
Offering program at off-campus location
Closing program at off-campus location
Terminating an academic degree program
Teach out of students
Moving a branch campus
Reinstating a terminated program

32. On-Site Committee will want to see more of the Institutional Effectiveness portal than the sample we submitted and know how we use it

33. Many of the Evaluators Specialize in IE

34. On-Site Committee may want to review files (transcripts, CVs, evaluations, letters) of a sample of 4,000 faculty and Graduate Students

35. The Committee May Make Recommendations

36. Where Can I Find Information?
FSU Website:
SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation
Compliance Certification Report
Focused Report
Branch Campus Summaries
Quality Enhancement Plan
Substantive Change Policy
Institutional Effectiveness

37. One More Matter: The University QEP
Chair: Professor Helen Burke will provide overview