Accreditation in Support of Institutional Effectiveness

and the Self Study Writing Process:

The Case of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane,

Morocco.

Thursday 08 November 2012

Name Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane

Year Chartered 1993Year Started 1995Year 1st Degree Offered 1999Type of Control Independent, Not for ProfitDegree Level BA, MANumber of Faculty 148 (15 p.t., 35 women, 53

international)Number of Students 1,764 (99 non degree, 52% girls,

21 nationalities)

Main Characteristics US Style of Education, Fee Paying, English Medium, Liberal Arts, etc.

Quality Ingredients at AUI 1/3

• Accountability to stakeholders (Board, Parents, Employers)

• Competition• Student Voice • Faculty Involvement • Staff Say• Flexibility to adjust/respond to change

Quality Ingredients at AUI 2/3• Mission• Vision• Strategic Plan (as a road map, AUI is at its

3rd S.P. Cf. next slide)• Internal Evaluation• External Evaluation (cf. slide)• Institutional Research Office (data

collection, surveys, etc.) In the works.

Quality Ingredients at AUI 3/3AUI Strategic Plan

Seven priorities:1. Reinforcement of the North American

Educational Model 2. Quality Assurance and Accreditation3. Growth and Development 4. Internationalization of the campus5. Financial Sustainability 6. Educational Leadership and Innovation 7. Human Capital Development

External Evaluation at AUIReviewers, board of trustees, accrediting

agencies, certifying agencies, employers, etc. • 2002 UNDP, British Quality Assurance Agency

(SSE and SBA,) MFT.• 2007 Tempus Project with UPC for Quality

Management of Universities (EDUQUEX) • 2009 LC and CEA 52/52• 2010 SBA and EPAS 59/68• 2011 SSE and ABET 53/56• 2012 SHSS and validation of programs • 2012 AUI and NEASC – under way . . . (next slide)

Major Milestones 1/2• 2009 Work on Report of Eligibility• 06/2010 Report of Eligibility

submitted• 10/2010 Eligibility Visit + Report • 12/2010 AUI granted Eligible Status• 01/2011 Start work on Self Study

for Candidacy• 10/2011 Attend Self Study

Workshop• 01/2012 Self Study submitted

Major Milestones 2/2• 03/2012 Review Team Visit +

Report• 04/2012 Report sent to / reviewed

by AUI for factual accuracy• 05/2012 Finalized report submitted

to commission• 07/2012 Official response to report

by AUI to commission• 11/2012 Decision on Candidacy

Status

Who do we write the self study for?2 audiences . . . 2 functions

Commission, Team Self Public function Private functionExternal audience Internal audienceStress product Stress process100 pages ++ Study self against standardsDeserve public trust? Reflection, inquiry, development

Quality Assurance Quality Improvement

Who writes the self study?• Several scenarios possible• Cf. size, age, (non) initial accreditation• AUI: 5 committees and 1 steering committee

(42 members total)• Get ‘everybody’ on board: faculty, staff,

executives, students (later,) board also,• Process involves all stakeholders • Combine standards (e.g. cmt A and stds 1, 2,

3, 10, and 11.)

NEASC Standards1. Mission and Purposes

2. Planning and Evaluation

3. Organization and Governance

4. The Academic Program

5. Faculty

6. Students

7. Library and Other Information Resources

8. Physical and Technological Resources

9. Financial Resources

10. Public Disclosure

11. Integrity (No Starter. Must from start. All others aspirational.)

Standards and Mission• All standards to be addressed wrt own

mission• Self study is voluntary ‘self’ + ‘study’• It’s not compliance, not audit, not

inspection, not check list with yes/no, • It’s self regulation, deep / nuanced

analysis, evaluation / assessment by peers

AUI MissionAl Akhawayn University in Ifrane is an independent, public, not-for-profit, coeducational Moroccan University committed to educating future citizen-leaders of Morocco and the world through a globally oriented, English-language, Liberal Arts curriculum based on the American system. The University enhances Morocco and engages the world through leading-edge educational and research programs, including continuing and executive education, upholds the highest academic and ethical standards, and promotes equity and social responsibility. 

Structure, Outline / Standard

Description

AppraisalProjection

What do we How well do we What do we commit to

do wrt the std? meet the std? do to improve?

Self Study Core: AppraisalAppraisal = Analysis = O S W E C

• O Opportunity (to reflect, learn, benchmark)

• S Strengths (identify them and make sure you maintain them)

• W Weaknesses (identify, address, improve)

• E Evidence (how do you know?)• C Candor (assures credibility)

2nd Most Important Component of Self Study: Projection

• Projection = forecast, plan, commitment• Should give very specific / crisp answers

to:– What: precise, doable, exact, clear– Who: assigned PIC or CIC– When: short / mid range, clear timeline– How: means (human or other)

Comprehensive: all students, all locations, all modes of delivery

Concise: more substance, fewer pagesCoherent: one voice, not 11 separate reportsCandid: nobody’s perfectCompelling: unique institutional ‘story’

NEASC Accreditation Workshop

Content of Self Study -- cf. 5 Cs

What we have gained 1/3• Improved governance• Work room, with lots of data, now centralized• Several policies either finalized or developed• More policies posted on web • Better and more planning• Culture of evidence put in place• Assessment in general, and assessment of

student learning in particular, clearer to all

What we have gained 2/3• ILOs of programs (some programs) now in place• ILOs to become ALOs• Got academic community on board• Mission: many more AUI stakeholders are

aware of it now• Idem with S.P.• Reviewed UCC, w/ more room for Liberal Arts

and electives to come• Much improved academic advising

What we have gained 3/3• Reviewed contracts w/ improved benefits

package• More smart classrooms (being generalized.)• New / much improved website• More efficient response to requests for

information• Creation of ombudsperson’s position, or

DMO Dispute Management Office• Improved sense of focus and energy

First hand lessons learnt. . . and shared 1/3

• Get ready for the challenge; it’s worth it; “it’s transformational”

• Involve all stakeholders on campus; be inclusive

• Identify those who deliver, (want to) know about the institution

• Establish committees but be flexible about their constitution

First hand lessons learnt. . . and shared 2/3

• Start collecting what you have; you have a lot• Plan, plan, and plan• Work from a backwards calendar• Read standards, re read, and re read• Review Data First / E / S forms very early and

regularly• Remember: it’s Description,

Appraisal, Projection

First hand lessons learnt. . . and shared 3/3

• Identify two good writers for Unity of voice• Be open, honest, candid• Involve IT early in process• Make sure self study is on agendas of all. . . and . . . • Motivate, encourage, celebrate

. . . and . . .

another lesson / quote from NEASC workshop:

“An excellent self-study is a good tool. A weak self-

study is still a good tool.”

. . . sooo . . .

Just Do It !!

Thank you!