Dr. Marlene Rosenbaum, Fairleigh Dickinson University

1. Building a Learning Community to Assure Quality through the Accreditation Process: Collaboration between Community Colleges, Public and Private Higher Education Institutions Dr. Marlene Rosenbaum, Fairleigh Dickinson University Dr. Heather Pfleger, Gwynedd Mercy College

2. Session Learning Outcomes • Appreciate value of meeting with colleagues • Gain specific strategies to assist you in forming a consortium • Learn how to conduct successful meetings • Create a “learning community” expanding your knowledge of LOA • Provide opportunities for research and grants

3. Conceptual Framework What is the thinking behind establishing a consortium? Why is it worth doing?

4. How idea evolved: • Experiences with the N. J. TEAC Consortium • The Middle States Conference—the Washington group’s experience • The NY/NJ Consortium meeting—we learned that geography played a role.

5. Why we thought consortium was a good idea: • Overcome isolation when working on LOA • Facilitate sharing of effective strategies & assist with solving common problems • Learn from each other.

6. Organizational Framework Who, what, when, where?

7. Getting started • Initial meeting— set agenda, keep room to allow for member discussion • Focus on constructive issues: how often to meet, where to meet, length of meetings, who will facilitate • Important: do not make this overwhelming time commitment

8. Who are members? • Assessment personnel, institutional research personnel, & staff representing information technology • Both faculty and staff

9. Membership continued • Colleges, universities, and community colleges • Private and public institutions • Membership is fluid

10. How to move forward? • Membership decides meeting topics, dates & times & agendas • Members take responsibility for different roles within the Consortium • Keep formal minutes

11. Rotate meeting location, once pattern established. • Logistics—who pays for meeting space, food? Our model—the host school pays.

12. Several expectations are realized Benefits of Participation

13. What we discovered out about our Consortium: • Meeting with colleagues facing similar issues and concerns – very valuable!!! • Sense of isolation diminished • Learn useful strategies from other colleges and universities re: LOA

14. Get good ideas to avoid pitfalls • Able to focus on specific topics—data management systems, general education assessment where there is a felt need.

15. Future Potential Benefits • Use information and data generated for research projects. • Explore the possibilities of using qualitative research to inform decisions made on assessment practices. • Share with new faculty the possibilities for research re: LOA. • Work with colleagues in the collaborative on grants that support LOA.

16. Technology: an important tool • Directory with e-mail addresses. • Began with Google; switched to Sakai. • Postings regarding conferences, articles, etc. • Blog set up for member discussions. • Minutes uploaded for reference.

17. Screen shot of minutes in Sakai

19. The consortium provides support with Middle States Requirements • The PRR—specific recommendations from members. • Sharing of strategies to address Self-Study preparations • Gaining insight into Middle States evaluators’ perspectives. • Discussion of current MSCHE policies

20. What we did not anticipate gaining Unexpected Benefits

21. Evolution into a Learning Community Opportunity to keep current re: Middle States policies Expanding efforts to professional organizations Enriching each other as a result of diverse institutions collaborating

22. Our suggestions Replicating the Consortium

23. Recommendations • Keep things simple & manageable • Spread the workload • Be flexible & value membership input • Encourage members to take ownership • Make good use of their time • Feed them, and they will come

24. Discussion and Q & A

25. We are happy to take your questions

26. For more information:Dr. Marlene Rosenbaum rosenbau@fdu.eduDr. Heather Lee Pflegerpfleger.h@gmc.edu