1. UPRM Self-Study for MSCHE 2005-2015
Presentation to Arts and Sciences Faculty
November 26, 2013
10:30 am

2. ACCREDITATION
Significant way that colleges and universities can give the public confidence that they provide a quality education.

3. Benefits of Accreditation
In order to be eligible for Federal student financial aid, students must attend an institution accredited by an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 
The Federal government requires that institutions be accredited in order to be eligible for many Federal grants and funds.
State governments often require that students attend accredited institutions in order to sit for state licensure examinations.

4. Benefits
Employers often require that certain employees hold degrees from accredited institutions
State governments often require that institutions be accredited in order to offer state student financial aid or receive other state grants and funds.
Colleges and universities often accept transfer credits only from institutions accredited by an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

5. Middle States (MSCHE)
One of the oldest accreditors in the United States and is one of the accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It accredits colleges and universities primarily in its region: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

6. MSCHE
MSCHE- “. . . professional association devoted to educational improvement through accreditation” (Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education, p. iv).
“The accreditation process is intended to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of higher education, making it worthy of public confidence and minimizing the scope of external control” (p.iv).
Characteristics of Excellence highlights that to obtain accreditation the institution needs to meet specific criteria.

7. Criteria for MSCHE Accreditation
that it has a mission appropriate to higher education;
that it is guided by well-defined and appropriate goals, including goals for student learning;
that it has established conditions and procedures under which its mission and goals can be realized;
that it assesses both institutional effectiveness and student learning outcomes, and uses the results for improvement;
that it is accomplishing its mission and goals substantially;
that it is organized, staffed, and supported so that it can be expected to continue to accomplish its mission and goals;
that it meets the Requirements of Affiliation and accreditation standards of the MSCHE (Characteristics of Excellence, 2006, p. iv)

8. Self Study
Advance institutional self-understanding and self improvement
Submit written report to the established MSCHE team
The basis for on-site evaluation
Lead the report following a timeline with deadlines
Managed by the Steering committee
Analyze data with steering committee and edit reports
Submit complete project to the Chancellor who submits it to the Community at large and to MSCHE

9. Middle States Steering Committee
Institutional Context
STANDARD
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER
#1- Mission and Goals
Betsy Morales Caro- Arts and Sciences
#2 and #3- Planning, Institutional Resources
Mercedes Ferrer- Engineering
#4 and #5- Leadership, Administration
Noel Artiles- Engineering
#6- Integrity
Halley Sánchez- Arts and Sciences
#7- Institutional Assessment
 Cristina Pomales- Engineering

10. Middle States Steering Committee
Educational Effectiveness
STANDARD
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER
#8- Student Admissions and Retention
Sonia Bartolomei- Engineering
#9- Student Support Services
Omell Pagán- Engineering
#10- Faculty
Gayle Griggs- Arts and Sciences
#11- Educational Offerings
Jorge González- Agricultural Sciences
#12- General Education
Mabel Ortiz- Arts and Sciences
#13- Related Educational Activities
Pedro Vásquez- Arts and Sciences
#14- Assessment of Student Learning
Bernadette Delgado- Arts and Sciences

11. Middle States Steering Committee
Committee is named to complete a re-accreditation self- study report for the Middle States Commission Higher Education and to conduct a self-study.
Each chair of standard has a subcommittee, which includes a student
2015 (Fall)- Hand in Self Study
2016 (Spring)- Visit

12. Middle States Steering Committee: Roles and Responsibilities
Request and gather required UPRM documents and information for accreditation.
Create and administer questionnaires for entire UPRM community
Conduct focus groups, interviews, etc.
Analyze all received data for self study report
Create self study reports by standard, which includes findings, strengths, areas needing improvement, and commendations
Write the Self Study Report to document data findings as requested by MSCHE
Host and organize the Spring 2016 MSCHE visit and submit any additional information requested/needed.

13. TIMELINE: MSCHE Spring 2013-2016
Create task forces for each standard
Create timeline for committee activities
Develop draft for the self-study design
Begin with questionnaire development
Summer 2013
Polish Self Study Design and complete Questionnaire development
Fall 2013
August-Submit the Design for the self-study
November-Publish arrangements for Prep visit Questionnaire
Distribute questionnaires (Gather Data)

14. TIMELINE: MSCHE Spring 2013-2016
Questionnaire Follow-up
Work in Groups (no deliverables)
Data analysis and reflection
Attend Self-study institute, by invitation
Possible visit to approve the design
Fall 2014
Develop individual task-force Self-Study Report (first draft)

15. TIMELINE: MSCHE Spring 2013-2016
Committee completes final draft for task force reports
Summer 2015
Submit Task Force Reports to UPRM (June 30th)
July- Integrate Task Force Reports into the Final Institutional Report
Fall 2015
August –September-Steering Committee Editing report
September-October –Professional Editor
Mid-October -Submit Institutional Self Study to Chancellor
November-Submit Final Report

16. TIMELINE: MSCHE Spring 2013-2016
Middle States Team Visits
Entire community needs to be included

17. Summary
Inform the UPRM community that we are active and are working 2 ½ years before the visit
Create awareness and consciousness
Familiarize community with our need for information via questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, etc.
Involve the entire community: Professors, non teaching personnel, students, administration - EVERYONE!

18. Questions?
Comments?