1. Reaffirmation of Accreditation Overview Western Carolina University Carol Burton, Director, SACS Review

2. SACS Overview Review Process Compliance Certification QEP Quality Enhancement Plan Off/On Site Teams

3. Review Process - Compliance Core Requirements – basic qualifications, e.g., institutional mission and effectiveness, educational programs, faculty. Comprehensive Standards – written, approved, published, accessible, implemented and enforced; e.g., governance, degree programs, faculty credentials, library resources, student affairs, physical and financial resources.

4. Review Process – Compliance, cont’d Federal Requirements – e.g., 1998 Higher Education Amendments, student recruitment, academic policies and calendars, curriculum alignment with degrees, and student complaints.

5. Quality Enhancement Plan Complement strategic planning/mission Enhance student learning Focused and futuristic Reflect current best practices Capitalize on strengths and address weaknesses Engage university community 75 (+25) pages

6. Organization for Review Leadership Team Compliance Committee (subcommittees on faculty credentials, core requirements, comprehensive standards) QEP Committee

7. SACS Review Timeline Spring 2007 (On- site Review) Fall 2006 (QEP Due) Summer 2006 (Compliance Certification Due) See Handout

8. Quality Enhancement Plan - Topics Engagement (students, faculty, staff, community, region) Technology (curriculum, distance education) Assessment Student services Diversity (faculty, students, programs, mission) Experiential learning; collaboration Life long learning

9. http://www.wcu.edu/sacs Carol Burton, Director, SACS Review 560 H. F. Robinson Administration Building 227-7497/3019 burton@email.wcu.edu