SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

1994-96 Western Carolina University

SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation

Frank Prochaska

Executive Director, UNC Teaching and Learning

with Technology Collaborative

and

Professor of Chemistry

Western Carolina University

SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

1994 Reaffirmation Criteria

SACS/Commission on Colleges Criteria for Accreditation• 470 “Must” Statements (required for

reaffirmation)• 350 “Should” Statements (strongly suggested)• Documentation of Compliance Required for

All “Must” Statements

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1994 Reaffirmation Criteria

Criteria for Accreditation were Divided into Six Sections• Principles and Philosophy of Accreditation• Institutional Purpose• Institutional Effectiveness• Educational Program• Educational Support Services• Administrative Processes

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1994 Reaffirmation Criteria

Institutional Effectiveness• Planning and Evaluation• Institutional Research

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1994 Reaffirmation Process

Steering Committee (17 members) supervised entire reaffirmation process:

1994-95 Year• Draft Institutional Self-Study Report Written by 15 Committees

1995-96 Year• Editing and Institution-wide Review of Self-Study Report

• Self-Study Report sent to Reaffirmation Committee (14 Members)

• Campus Visit by Reaffirmation Committee (March 1996)

• Report from Reaffirmation Committee received by WCU (May 1996)

Fall 1996• WCU Submits Response to Reaffirmation Committee Report

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Reaffirmation Committee Final Report• 34 Recommendations (34 findings of noncompliance)• 24 Suggestions (suggestions for improvement)

Implementation of recommendations was required.

Institutions could choose whether or not to implement suggestions.

Western elected to implement all recommendations and most suggestions.

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Recommendation 4Planning and Evaluation: Educational Programs

“The Committee recommends that the institution develop and implement procedures to evaluate the extent to which educational goals are being achieved, and use the results of these evaluations to improve educational programs, services, and operations.”

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Recommendation 5Planning and Evaluation: Administrative and

Educational Support Services

“The Committee recommends that each administrative and educational support service unit develop and implement procedures to evaluate the extent to which goals are being achieved, and use the results of the evaluations to improve administrative and educational support services.”

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Recommendation 8Undergraduate Instruction

“The Committee recommends that the University evaluate the effectiveness of its various instructional programs using a variety of techniques.”

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Recommendation 9Academic Advising of Undergraduate Students

“The Committee recommends that the University ensure that the number of advisees assigned to faculty or professional staff is reasonable.”

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Recommendation 10Graduate Curriculum

“The Committee recommends that combined instruction of graduate and undergraduate students be structured to ensure appropriate attention to both groups.”

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Recommendation 11Graduate Curriculum

“The Committee recommends that the institution conduct frequent systematic evaluations of graduate curricula offerings and program requirements.”

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Recommendation 13Graduate Instruction

“The Committee recommends that the institution demonstrate that students completing non-traditional programs or courses have acquired equivalent levels of knowledge and competencies to those acquired in traditional formats.”

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Recommendation 14Graduate Instruction

“The Committee recommends that there be frequent, systematic evaluation of graduate instruction and revision of the instructional process based on the results of this evaluation.”

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Recommendation 15Academic Advising of Graduate Students

“The Committee recommends that the number of graduate advisees assigned to faculty or professional staff be reasonable.”

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Recommendation 25Faculty: Criteria and Procedures for Evaluation

“The Committee recommends that the institution demonstrate that it uses the results of this evaluation for the improvement of faculty and its educational program.”

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Reaffirmation Committee Findings

Recommendation 30Student Development Services: Scope and

Accountability

“The Committee recommends that the Division of Student Development develop an assessment plan that reflects the full scope of activities, services, and programs necessary to fulfill its mission of service to students.”

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Final Result

Letter from SACS/COC to Chancellor Bardo dated January 6, 1997:

“The following action regarding your institution was taken at the December 1996 meeting of the Commission on Colleges:

Reaffirmation of accreditation…”