Revisions to the nwccu accreditation standards: what does it mean for me?

1. Revisions to the nwccu accreditation standards:what does it mean for me?

2. Purpose of today’s presentation • A little info about Institutional Accreditation • Brief overview of New Standards • Impact on CSN • As an Institution • For you/your functional area

3. About institutional accreditation

4. Purpose of institutional accreditation • Intended to be a self-reflective process • Provides framework for institutional evaluation of strengths, weaknesses and achievements relative to criteria • Allows demonstration of institutional performance, integrity and quality to stakeholders • Allows for peer evaluation and feedback

5. Some terms defined • Standards are the general criteria by which an institution is evaluated • Articulate elements of quality and effectiveness • Policies are part of the Standard and further define it • Core Themes are fundamental elements of our Institutional Mission that form our common purpose, guide planning, implementation of activities, and allocation of resources. • Institutions interpret the Standards, establish their own goals and outcome objectives, engage in self-study and share this with peer evaluators who provide external analysis of how well we’ve done

6. An illustration • Standard Two—Resources and Capacity • 2 C.4: Degree programs, wherever offered and however delivered, demonstrate a coherent design with appropriate breadth, depth, sequencing of courses, and synthesis of learning. Admission and graduation requirements are clearly defined and widely published. • A policy would further contextualize (e.g. for distance delivery of courses, certificate and degree programs

7. Why were the standards revised? • It’s been a long time…. • NWCCU attempt to maintain currency with evolution of higher ed: • Increased collaboration/decreased siloing (provide means for reflection on alignment around Institutional mission, strategic plan and core themes—emphasize shared purpose) • Encourage identification, utilization of cross-functional relationships in institution

8. What the new standards do • Link functional areas with core themes--helps us think in collaborative manner • Evaluation across institution—how do we all help to achieve goals, support core themes? • Requires that institutions engage in data driven decision making • Link data, planning and resource allocation • Heavier emphasis on outcomes, continuous measurement, and documented improvement

9. An overview of the new standards

10. Overview of revised standards • Standard One—Mission, Core Themes, & Expectations • Standard Two—Resources & Capacity • Standard Three—Planning & Implementation • Standard Four—Effectiveness & Improvement • Standard Five—Mission Fulfillment, Adaptation, & Sustainability

11. What’s the impact on csn

12. Impact on csn –timeline • TIMELINE/SCHEDULE CHANGES • New schedule is septennial (7 year cycle) • Annual communication—each builds on prior; something is ‘due’ every two years—reduces interim visits (two site visits in new schedule) • 2011 is CSN’s first report • 2012: Year Three report & visit • 2014: Year Five report • 2015: Year Seven report & visit

13. Impact on csn—working together • WE ALL IDENTIFY AND MEASURE OUR LINK TO CORE THEMES • Don’t have to link to every core theme • You still do it how you see fit (e.g. you still conduct assessment practices as you have) • Everyone measures and documents • May be asked to provide info on how you support other Standards • Strategic Plan and Deployment Plan are our guides—review them

14. Impact on you—we all assess, document, demonstrate • For Standard One (Mission, Core Themes, Expectations): • identify performance indicators relative to core themes (strategic plan does this) • Institution documents adoption and use of these • For Standard Two (Resources & Capacity): • Assesses major institutional functions, resources and structures relative to resources and capacity—can/are we attaining outcomes?

15. Impact on you—we all assess, document, demonstrate • For Standard Three (Planning & Implementation): • Must document evidence of strategic Institutional planning (all areas) • For Standard Four (Effectiveness & Improvement): • Must assess effectiveness and use of results for improvement—document assessment of core themes and progress toward attainment is new • For Standard Five (Mission Fulfillment, Adaptation & Sustainability): • Document expectations for evaluating fulfillment of institutional mission, monitoring operational environments to forecast and adapt to trends

16. Planning for upcoming changes • Review the new Strategic Plan & Deployment Plan—these will inform our practices • Assessment: everyone has to assess and document on annual cycle • Those assessing need to add Core Theme link • Those not assessing will need to start this year • General Education Assessment continues • AA General Studies will need to have assessment protocol this year

17. Other evaluative activities that contribute • Institutional Master Planning (Program Needs, Space Utilization) • Academic & Non-Academic Program Review • Upcoming Institutional Assessments mentioned (Customer Service, Climate) • Specialized program accreditation • Benchmark survey projects (CCSSE) • Homegrown surveys

18. Final thoughts… • Look for trainings starting this fall for: • Those who’ve been assessing—adding in Core Themes • Those who’ve never assessed—how to get started • For more information on the Standards, process, etc., see the NWCCU site at: http://www.nwccu.org/