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Reaffirmation of Accreditation under the new Principles of Accreditation…

the LSU Perspective

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•LSU philosophy:philosophy: Embraced SACSCOC Principles of

Accreditation Involved minimal # individuals in

Compliance Certification Engaged campus in creation of QEP Used electronic format exclusively Streamlined process minimized

disruptions

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Louisiana State University

Overview• Louisiana’s research extensive, flagship institution

• Land-grant and Sea-grant designations• Enrollment of ~32,000 (Fall 2004)• Wide array of degree programs in multiple colleges and

schools• Mission: generation, preservation, dissemination, and

application of knowledge and cultivation of the arts • Vision: to be a leading research-extensive university,

challenging undergraduate and graduate students to achieve the highest levels of intellectual and personal development

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Initial Structure of LSU’s Reaffirmation

3 distinct entities within LSU System: Louisiana State University, LSU Hebert Law Center

Both are degree-granting institutions Both seek reaffirmation of accreditation

LSU Agricultural Center Non-degree-granting institution Does not seek accreditation

All share single, large physical space in Baton Rouge All share select functions, joint support services Historical precedent for joint submission

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•Nov. 2001: Provost selected Accreditation Liaison/Leadership Team Chair Chose a Distinguished ProfessorGranted release time from classroom teachingAllocated temporary office space and budget

•Dec. 2001: Provost, University Planning Council appointed Leadership Team

•Jan. 2002: Liaison began collaboration with Computing Services

Structure of LSU’s Reaffirmation

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LSU’s Leadership Team

• Chancellor• Provost• Accreditation Liaison served as Team Chair• 9 distinguished full professors (including past/current

Faculty Senate Presidents)• Law Center representative

• Student Government representative • Ex-Officio members

Academic Affairs: Vice-Provost, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Budget & Planning: Associate Vice-Chancellor, Director Center for Excellence in Learning & Teaching: Director

• Reaffirmation Staff Part-time Editor: English Instructor (2003) 1 Graduate Assistant 2 Student workers

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Development of Compliance Certification

•Spring 2002: Compliance Certification Sub-Committee formed within Leadership Team (4 members)

–Grouped corresponding Core Requirements and Comprehensive Standards into ‘assignments’

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Development of Compliance Certification

•Fall 2002: Assignments given to key administrators most likely to have ‘answers’

–Detailed instructions provided: to complete assignment specified formatting instructions

–Liaison worked directly with each administrator and his/her staff to complete assignment

–Designated members of Leadership Team served as resource contacts

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November 2002:Website activated. Included public and secure sections - (Leadership Team, SACSCOC Reviewers).

http://www.lsu.edu/sacscoc

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Development of Compliance Certification

•Fall 2002:

• Created on-line faculty credentials database Generated from existing HRM & course mgt. data Conducted 1st verification by faculty in Spring 2003

•Spring 2003:

• Created on-line credentials databases for academic support staff, department heads, administrators

• Created on-line Academic Programs Assessment Matrix

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Development of Compliance Certification

•March - April 2003: Majority of input received from across campus–Liaison and editor collated input

•April 2003: Liaison and Provost reviewed and revised documentation

• May - June 2003: Liaison continued revisions, developed full working draftEmbedded hyperlinks throughout

(1000+ hyperlinks) On-line appendix provided

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Compliance CertificationSample Core Requirement & Response

3. The institution has a chief executive officer whose primary responsibility is to the institution and who is not the presiding officer of the board. In Compliance

Narrative: The Chancellor serves as the chief executive officer of Louisiana State University, a unit head within the LSU system and subject to the direction and control of the President of the LSU System and the LSU Board of Supervisors. The Chancellor exercises complete executive authority over the institution in accordance with LSU Policy Statement 50: Responsibilities and Concerns of University Personnel, Section D, #1 and the Bylaws & Regulations of the LSU Board of Supervisors, Article 7,

section 4. (To view the Rights, Duties, and Responsibilities of Principal Administrative Officers of the LSU System, click on the Bylaws link, open the .pdf file, and page forward to Article 7, section 4.)

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Development of Compliance Certification

• June 2003: Posted draft on secure website for limited review

• July 2003: Posted revised draft for review by full LSU Community

• August 14, 2003: Submitted completed documents on-line & on CD to SACSCOC

• August 15, 2003: Moved Compliance Certification to LSU public website

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Submissions for Off-Site Review:

• Support Form• Hardcopy of

Compliance Certification

• Signed Cover• Detailed user

instructions

CD of Compliance

Certification, Supporting

documents

http://www.lsu.edu/sacscoc

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Follow-up to Off-Site Review

• October 16, 2003: Conducted Conference call with SACSCOC Liaison to hear results of Off-Site Review

• In response to Off-Site Review:• LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center now seeking

accreditation separately• Limited number of issues required more

documentation/clarification. Information included in Focused Report submitted March 2004.

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Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

“Fulfilling the LSU Flagship Agenda: Enhancing Students' Academic Experiences through

Scholarly and Creative Activity”

• Intricately linked to LSU’s 7-year strategic plan – Flagship Agenda 2003-2010

• Flagship Agenda focuses on increasing research and scholarly productivity and quality and competitiveness of graduate and undergraduate students

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QEP

QEP focuses on enhancement of student learning and is designed to help achieve Objectives 2 and 3 of the Flagship Agenda

– Objective 2 “…increase number and quality of graduate students and programs”

– Objective 3 “… increase quality of undergraduate students and programs”

Will run concurrently with Flagship Agenda, 2003-2010

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Development of QEP

• Fall 2002: Campus-wide dialogue/discussion of Flagship Agenda

• Spring 2003: Flagship Agenda adopted• LSU Leadership Team actively involved• Focus of QEP determined

• Fall 2003: Chancellor & Provost created 2 Flagship Study Groups • Graduate Education Study Group

• Undergraduate Education Study Group

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Each Study Group had ~30 members Faculty, professional staff, and students

Met bi-weekly Fall 2003 & Spring 2004 Discussed assigned readings such as:

Dealing with the Future Now: Principles for Creating a Vital Campus in a Climate of Restricted Resources

Greater Expectations: A New Vision for Learning as a Nation Goes to College

Preparing for the Revolution: Information Technology and the Future of the Research University

Reinventing Undergraduate Education: A Blueprint for America's Research Universities

(See Bibliography in Handout.)

Development of QEP

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Study Groups reviewed LSU assessment data: National Survey of Student Engagement Your First College Year Cooperative Institutional Research Project Undergraduate Graduating Student Survey Other institutional data

Made action recommendations that formed basis of QEP

Contributed text and served as reviewers as QEP evolved

Now helping to implement QEP

Development of QEP

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Development of QEP

•Early Spring 2004: QEP actively publicized within LSU Community• Website (www.lsu.edu/sacscoc)

• Broadcast emails

• Presentations

• Print articles

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QEP Press Coverage (sample)

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Development of QEP

•March 2004: QEP finalized and submitted to On-Site Review Committee• Moved to public part of LSU

website

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Submissions to On-Site Reviewers:

• Hardcopy:– FOCUSED

REPORT– QEP

• Detailed user instructions

http://www.lsu.edu/sacscoc

CDs of Focused Report, QEP, Supporting documents

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Preparations for On-Site Review

• Spring 2003: Date set for Site visit• Block of Hotel rooms reserved• Campus meeting rooms reserved

• Fall 2003: Two QEP consultants determined and invited to participate

• Spring 2004: Leadership Team prepared for visit on April 27 - 29• Logistics• Hospitality• PR

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On-Site Review

• Sample of materials provided to Site Team members

General LSU Information

Campus food & beverage debit card

Portable office Supplies & snacks

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On-Site Review

• Spreading the word around campus…

Street Banners Screen Saver on All Public Access PCs

Yard Signs

Poster

Library Bulletin Board

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On-Site Review Press Coverage

Before

After

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On-Site Review

• Expressions of appreciation given to campus participants during On-Site Reception

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Outcomes of On-Site Review

• Reviewers were complimentary of arrangements• Advanced preparations, attention to details

helped all run smoothly

• Invited consultants took lead on review of QEP component

• No surprises in results of Exit Report• Initiatives now underway to address

recommendations

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In retrospect… format worked well

What helped to make it work for LSU?Established planning/assessment process

Extensive electronic documentation

Computing Services collaboration

Campus communication

Participation of faculty, staff, students

Support of upper administration

Release time for Liaison

•Plan for surprises, delays

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Contact InformationTeresa A. Summers, Ph.D.Spanier Alumni Professor

Interim Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs

Louisiana State University System3810 West Lakeshore Drive

Baton Rouge, LA 70808tsummer@lsu.edu

(225)578-6118