1. Accreditation Liaison Officers (ALOs)
MSCHE Annual Conference
December 2011
Robert A. Schneider
Senior Vice President

2. Who is the ALO? The primary contact with MSCHE staff
A resource to the institution on accreditation issues
Someone with time, knowledge and authority to engage with president and others on campus on accreditation
Not the president and not a consultant

3. ALO roles and responsibilities
For Commission guidelines see:
The Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) Role and
Responsibilities
For resources see:
ALO Orientation e-Packet

4. What does an ALO need to know?
Commission Schedule
Accreditation Events and Cycles
Annual Reporting Requirement (IP)
Follow-Up Reporting Requirements
Handbooks contents
Policies, Guidelines & Procedures
MSCHE Website Contents
ALO Newsletter
Workshops, Institutes, Conferences

5. Commission Meetings
Full Commission meets early March, late June, and mid-November
Takes action on recommendations following from Self-Study Evaluations, Periodic Review Reports, Follow-up Reports and Visits
Actions communicated within 30 days of meetings

6. Commission Schedule Committee meetings
Self-Study Evaluations: 3 x year
Periodic Review Reports: 4-5 x year (October)
Follow-up Reports: 3 x year
Substantive Change Requests: every other month (February, April, etc.) with deadline the first of the month before (January, March)

7. Accreditation Events and Cycles
Self-study evaluation and visit: every ten years (except newly accredited: five years after first accreditation)
Periodic Review Report: five-year interim report between self-studies: always due June 1
Annual Institutional Profile: due in April of each year

8. Annual Institutional Profile
Offers evaluation teams and staff a snapshot of an institution's structure, operations, finances, and accreditation status;
Enables staff to monitor an individual institution's compliance with selected aspects of accreditation standards;

9. Annual Institutional Profile
Updates the on-line member Directory of member and candidate institutions and the Statement of Accreditation Status;
Provides the Commission with a basis for assessing dues; and
Assists staff in developing region-wide aggregate data.

10. Annual Institutional Profile

11. Follow-up Reports
Can be requested as result of self-study evaluation, periodic review report, or previous follow-up report
Progress report
Monitoring report
Supplemental report

12. Follow-up Reports See Guidelines: Follow-Up Reports and Visits

13. Know your handbooks!!
Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education: Requirements of Affiliation and Standards for Accreditation
Handbook for Periodic Review Reports
Self-Study: Creating a Useful Process and Report
Team Visits: Conducting and Hosting an Evaluation Visit

14. Handbooks
All available on our website,
Can also be ordered at the website

15. Handbooks
Check handbooks for information prior to contacting the Commission staff with questions
Self-studies are to be 100 pp single-spaced, 200 pp double-spaced

16. Policies (categories)
General Accreditation Policies, Guidelines, and Procedures
The Peer Review Process
Institutional Programs and Services
Public and Government Relationships and Communication

17. Policies (categories)
International Programs
Commission Administrative Procedures
Complaints, Comments, and Appeals

18. Policies See Policies, Guidelines & Procedures index:

19. Policies of special note
Substantive Change Policy:
Substantive Change Processes:
Substantive Change Visits to Branch Campuses and Additional Locations:

20. Policies of Special Note
Schedule of Dues and Fees:
Selection of Peer Evaluators:

21. Policies of Special Note
Contracts by Accredited and Candidate Institutions For Education-Related Services:

22. Special note regarding policies
They change!
Be sure to check the website for most up-to-date
Changes due to HEOA, etc.

23. MSCHE website

24. www.msche.org Institutions
Alpha order: all candidate and accredited institutions
Basic directory information, institutional website link, date of accreditation and latest reaffirmation
Statement of Accreditation Status and Detail View

25. ALO Newsletter
MSCHE ALO Newsletter is published five times each year: Early Fall, Early Winter, Winter, Spring, and Summer.
ALO Newsletters are also archived on our website:

26. MSCHE events Self-Study Institute (invitation)
Periodic Review Report Workshop (invitation)
Chairs and Evaluators Workshop (invitation)
Annual conference
Assessment Workshops
Planning and Assessment Workshops

27. Final tips Check the website regularly
Check with the president’s office upon receipt of MSCHE communications to make sure they receive prompt attention
Keep up with due dates for reports
Communicate with constituencies as needed
Get to know your Commission liaison!