1. HLC Update: Progress and Preparation for the Visit
Sharon Klavins
Chair, HLC Re-affirmation of Accreditation Steering Committee
September 1, 2016

2. UW-Platteville Mission
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville provides associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree programs in a broad spectrum of disciplines including: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; criminal justice; education; business; agriculture; and the liberal arts.

3. UW-Platteville Mission
We promote excellence by using a personal, hands-on approach to empower each student to become broader in perspective, intellectually more astute, ethically more responsible, and to contribute wisely as an accomplished professional and knowledgeable citizen in a diverse global community.

4. At this point in our preparation, you should be able to:
Explain what accreditation is;
Explain how your role on campus and your program align with our institutional mission;
Recognize where we can continue to improve; and
Acknowledge our accomplishments and strengths.

5. What is accreditation?
Multi-faceted, peer evaluation of institutional effectiveness
Assumed Practices
Federal Compliance
Five Criteria for Accreditation
Each with multiple sub-components
Ensures that we meet standards for providing a high quality education
System of accountability to those who provide financial resources
Helps us identify specific areas for improvement, document those areas where we have already improved

6. Five Criteria for Accreditation
Mission
Ethical and Responsible Conduct
Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support
Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
Resources, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness

7. What is accreditation? Requirement For student access to financial aid
For institutional access to private, state and federal funding
Ensures that we meet standards for providing a high quality education
System of accountability to those who provide financial resources
Helps us identify specific areas for improvement, document those areas where we have already improved

8. What is accreditation? Multi-Step Process Quality Initiative Project
35,000 word Quality Assurance (QA) Argument
Federal Compliance documentation
Comprehensive campus review by peer evaluators
On-site in Year 10
Desk review in Year 4
Ensures that we meet standards for providing a high quality education
System of accountability to those who provide financial resources
Helps us identify specific areas for improvement, document those areas where we have already improved

9. Timeline Site visit: October 24-25 We’re here now Will have another
Talking Points: Our goal is to have the Assurance Argument in final form by June, 2016, all evidence files uploaded by August.
Will have another
complete review
again in 4 years

10. What is accreditation? Opportunity For institutional self-reflection
To identify areas for improvement
To demonstrate our strengths and accomplishments
Ensures that we meet standards for providing a high quality education
System of accountability to those who provide financial resources
Helps us identify specific areas for improvement, document those areas where we have already improved

11. At your service
More than 60 faculty and staff from across campus have been directly involved in our preparation over the past 4 years:
HLC Reaffirmation of Accreditation Steering Committee
Criterion Teams (Quality Assurance)
Federal Compliance Team
Quality Initiative Team

12. Next Steps Quality Assurance Argument
Spring - Drafts of all five sections made available to campus.
Summer - Revised versions released on the campus website.
September - Final document and executive summary will be available on our website at the end of the month.

13. Next Steps Federal Compliance Filing
September - Separate document due at the same time as the QA argument.
October - HLC panel reviews and reports results to our site visit team.
Issues brought to their attention may be subject to further inquiry by the team
Information requests could include annual reports of committees to Faculty Senate, evidence of success in improving student learning, summaries of program data – up to 9 years worth of evidence

14. Next Steps Results of Student Survey
September - HLC will share these with us and the review team at the end of the month.
There may be issues that need our attention before the review team visit.
Information requests could include annual reports of committees to Faculty Senate, evidence of success in improving student learning, summaries of program data – up to 9 years worth of evidence

15. Next Steps Comprehensive Site Visit
Five member team will be on campus:
Monday, October 24th – 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 25th – 8:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Concurrent meetings each day
Open forums for faculty, staff, and students
Schedule will be finalized in October, communicated to campus on our website.
Information requests could include annual reports of committees to Faculty Senate, evidence of success in improving student learning, summaries of program data – up to 9 years worth of evidence

16. How is this year’s review different from the process 10 years ago?
HLC’s focus is on institutional outcomes and effectiveness.
Emphasis is on our institutional roles as stewards of resources provided by others (e.g., students and their families, state & federal government, donors).
We should be able to demonstrate that we are using these resources effectively, efficiently, and wisely.

17. How can you help? Respond promptly to requests for information.
Understand how you and your program align with our institutional mission.
Our mission is central to how we will be evaluated.
Everyone on campus is integral to our reaffirmation of accreditation.
Be professional when you interact with Review Team Members.

18. Open Forums – Platteville East, MPSC
Friday, September 16, noon – 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 6, 11:00 a.m. – noon
Wednesday, October 12, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.