Standard 13Related Educational Activities

Robert K. ClarkCumberland County College

Vineland, NJ

Standard 13

• The institution’s programs or activities that are characterized by particular content, focus, location, mode of delivery, or sponsorship meet appropriate standards.

To Misquote Erik Satie

“There are three kinds of standards. The ones who are important; the ones who are less so; and those who aren’t important at all. The last two kinds don’t exist; all standards are important”

To Quote Erik Satie

“There are three kinds of critics. The ones who are important; the ones who are less so; and those who aren’t important at all. The last two kinds don’t exist; all critics are important”Erik Satie

13 is an Extremely Diverse Standard

• Covering a great variety of areas.

An Extremely Diverse Standard

• Covers the following areas:– Basic Skills– Certificate Programs– Experiential Learning– Non-Credit Offerings– Branch Campuses, Additional Locations and Other

Instructional Sites– Distance or Distributed Learning– Contractual Relationships and Affiliated Providers

Where to begin?

• Another misquote:

Where to begin?

• Another misquote:

Boring to the uninitiated, mystifying to the non-participant, a secular religion for those who have felt its spell

Where to begin?

• Another misquote:

Boring to the uninitiated, mystifying to the non-participant, a secular religion for those who have felt its spell, Characteristics of Excellence…

Where to begin?

• The actual quote:

Boring to the uninitiated, mystifying to the non-participant, a secular religion for those who have felt its spell, rowing…

Thomas C. Mendenhall

Characteristics is our touch stone.

Characteristics is our touch stone.

• You must familiarize yourself with Characteristics of Excellence.

Characteristics is our touch stone.

• You must familiarize yourself with Characteristics of Excellence.– Including the Context and Fundament Elements

for each standard.

Understanding the Standard

• Once you have read the standard, examine the context.– Note that in this case, a relationship to Standard

11, Educational Offerings, is noted.

Standards within the standard

• Standard Thirteen can be thought of as a compound standard.

Standards within the standard

• Standard Thirteen can be thought of as a compound standard.– It contains a number of separate focuses (listed

above).• For each focus of this standard, we have a brief

narrative statement.

Standards within the standard

• Standard Thirteen can be thought of as a compound standard.– It contains a number of separate focuses (listed

above).• For each focus of this standard, we have a brief

narrative statement.– To some degree, these are standards within the

standard.

Standards within the standard

• Standard Thirteen can be thought of as a compound standard.– It contains a number of separate focuses (listed

above).• For each focus of this standard, we have a brief

narrative statement.– To some degree, these are standards within the

standard.• Note that not all apply to every institution.

Standards within the standard

• This is a compound standard.• Note that not all apply to every institution.

“The ‘Related Educational Activities’ contained in Standard 13 are to be addressed only as they relate to individual institutions.”Characteristics of Excellence, page vi

So, how do we decide which apply?

So, how do we decide which apply?

• Examine this standard and its parts in the context of the institution’s mission.

So, how do we decide which apply?

• Examine this standard and its parts in the context of the institution’s mission.– Do all parts apply?– Are elements present in the Self-Study Report that

seem inappropriate given the institution’s current mission?

So, how do we decide which apply?

• Examine this standard and its parts in the context of the institution’s mission.– Do all parts apply?– Are elements present in the Self-Study Report that

seem inappropriate given the institution’s current mission?

– Some judgment is required.• Remember to apply common sense.• Remember to work with your team members!

Next, Examine the Fundamental Elements

• Fundamental elements are guideposts of ways in which an institution might meet a standard.

• They must not be used as a checklist for compliance.– Each institution is evaluated on its individual

merits, against the accepted standards.

And then…

• Also examine the Optional Analysis and Evidence.– Examples of ways in which an institution might

facilitate its own analysis of its compliance with the standard.

– Again, not to be used as a checklist, more as potential guideposts.

Other Resources

• Note that the Commission has a number of valuable resources available at the Commission’s web site.– Examples that apply to Standard 13:

• Substantive Change Policy Statement• Contracts for Accredited and Candidate Institutions for

Education-Related Services• Distance Learning Programs: Interregional Guidelines for

Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs• Standardized Language for Commission Actions on

Accreditation and Examples of Options for Follow-up

Regulatory Requirements

• Some aspects of Standard Thirteen are linked to DOE regulatory requirements.– Distance/ Correspondence Education– New Sites/Additional Locations

Distance/Correspondence Regulatory Requirements

• 602.17g requires that institutions that offer distance or correspondence education have processes in place through which the institution establishes that the student who registers in a distance or correspondence education course or program is the same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives the academic credit.

Distance/Correspondence Regulatory Requirements

(1) Student identity can be verified through such methods as:(i) A secure login and pass code;(ii) Proctored examinations; and.(iii) New or other technologies and practices that are

effective in verifying student identity; and

Distance/Correspondence Regulatory Requirements

(1) Student identity can be verified through such methods as:(i) A secure login and pass code;(ii) Proctored examinations; and.(iii).New or other technologies and practices that are effective in verifying student identity; and

(2) …Institutions must use process that protect student privacy and notify students of any projected additional student charges associated with the verification of student identity at the time of registration or enrollment.

Distance/Correspondence Regulatory Requirements

• Note that a Substantive Change Request must be submitted when 50% or more of a program’s courses are provided through alternate delivery.

• Approval must be achieved prior to initiation of the program.

Additional Location Regulatory Requirements

• Additional Locations/ Branch Campuses– Definitions are available on the MSCHE website.• Look in the Substantive Change Policy Statement.

Additional Location Regulatory Requirements

• An Instructional Site is a location, other than a branch campus or additional location, at which the institution offers one or more courses for credit. – Substantive Change approval is not required.– Instructional Sites should be noted on the annual

Institutional Profile.

Additional Location Regulatory Requirements

• An additional location is a location, other than a branch campus, that is;– geographically apart from the main campus and – at which the institution offers at least 50% of an

educational program.• These include corporate sites and locations for limited,

rather than ongoing, provision of programs. • Some additional locations might be subject to other

substantive change policies, including contractual agreements for the provision of courses at the site, which might require additional substantive change requests.

Additional Location Regulatory Requirements

• A branch campus is a location of an institution that is geographically apart and independent of the main campus of the institution. – The location is independent if the location

• offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential;

• has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization; and

• Has its own budgetary and hiring authority.– The institution must notify the Commission if it plans to

establish a branch campus and must submit a business plan for the branch campus.

Additional Location Regulatory Requirements

• Additional Locations/ Branch Campuses– Note that “Prior approval of the plan for

substantive change is required before the change is included in the institution’s previously granted Candidate or Accreditation status.”

Substantive Change Policy Statement

Some closing thoughts.

• Apply common sense.

Some closing thoughts.

• Apply common sense.– Remember that there are many different models

for educational and operational excellence.

Some closing thoughts.

• Work with your team; try to build consensus.

Some closing thoughts.

• Work with your team; try to build consensus.

–“Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.”

The Borg

Some closing thoughts.

• Remember the ultimate goal of accreditation through peer review.

Some closing thoughts.

• Remember the ultimate goal of accreditation through peer review.

Institutional Improvement

Some closing thoughts.

• Remember the ultimate goal of accreditation through peer review.

Institutional ImprovementThat is really the heart of the matter.