1. Best practices for accreditation at the local level
The CIO as ALO
Best practices for accreditation at the local level

2. Panelists Pamela D. Walker, Ed.D. Vice Chancellor, CCCCO
Mary Kay Rudolph, Ed.D.  Executive Vice President, Santa Rosa Junior College, CIO/ALO for 12 years in current position; for 3 years at prior college in NCA
Meridith Randall, J.D. Associate Superintendent, Instruction and Institutional Effectiveness, Chaffey College, ALO for 23 years/CIO for 12

3. What are the critical elements of the Accreditation Standards?
Fulfillment of Mission
Institutional effectiveness
Student learning
Library and learning support services
Data-driven decision-making
Integrated planning and evaluation
Student support services
CEO and Board oversight

4. Why the CIO is central to accreditation
Colleges are organized around instruction and supporting instruction
The Standards focus on student learning as the ultimate outcome of most college activities, such as Standard III.C.5: “The institution has policies….that guide the appropriate use of technology in the teaching and learning processes.” (Also III.B.1 and I.B.7)
CIOs speak “SLO language” – many have come from faculty or have guided faculty through implementation of SLOs
CIOs often supervise planning and/or research

5. The CIO’s position at the college assists with accreditation success
Reports directly to President
Usually tasked with informing Board about accreditation
Encourages engagement of faculty and other instructional staff
Serves as second contact point at college for ACCJC
Best practice is for faculty to co-chair with ALO and CIOs lead/supervise all faculty

6. Why IR is essential, but not as the lead
IR can supply critical data in a reliable format and provide analysis
IR can provide surveys, best practice research, focus groups 
IR is connected with other researchers across the State and can provide context
IR ensures that the college has the resources to be data-driven

7. CIOs are essential to prepare the college for a visit
Most CIOs are former faculty
Teaching is second nature to most of us
Prior to a visit, a period of education is ideal:
Workshops
Newsletters
Reminders/ “countdown”

8. What Does the Team Expect?
A comfortable room with hard evidence
Evidence at the hotel
The ability to change interviews frequently
Tech support on call
Decent food
Endless caffeine
What is an unreasonable expectation from a team?

9. Team Focus
Anything you identified in your self-evaluation as a problem
Anything currently on ACCJC’s radar
Any particular interests of the team member
The Rubrics

10. The Big Picture/Wrap Up

11. Meridith’s Advice
Whatever your process is for planning, assessing SLOs, resource allocation, etc., make sure you can produce DOCUMENTS and show that the process is evaluated regularly and results in changes.
Make sure (almost) everyone can tell the team what the processes are AND that they had opportunity for input. Keep evidence that employees were given chances to comment.

12. And….
If you come through a visit with sanctions, it will likely be your fault as the ALO…..
But if you are successful, there will be “too many people to thank”
Just accept it….