Moving Successfully Toward Moving Successfully Toward SACS Reaffirmation:SACS Reaffirmation:

An Introductory Discussion An Introductory DiscussionPresentersPresenters

Dr. Cathy FleurietDr. Cathy FleurietAssociate Vice President for Institutional EffectivenessAssociate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness

Ms. Lisa GarzaMs. Lisa GarzaDirector for University Planning and AssessmentDirector for University Planning and Assessment

Dr. Beth WuestDr. Beth WuestDirector for Academic Development and AssessmentDirector for Academic Development and Assessment

Purpose of PresentationPurpose of PresentationTo provide a holistic overview of To provide a holistic overview of

issues, activities and timelines issues, activities and timelines leading to reaffirmation by the leading to reaffirmation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)Schools (SACS)

To illustrate how planning and To illustrate how planning and assessment initiatives at Texas State assessment initiatives at Texas State are leading to SACS reaffirmationare leading to SACS reaffirmation

Our Presentation will address:Our Presentation will address: Changes in SACS reaffirmation requirements Changes in SACS reaffirmation requirements

since our last reaffirmation in 1999.since our last reaffirmation in 1999. Overview of SACS requirements for Overview of SACS requirements for

reaffirmationreaffirmation Review of major documents and committees Review of major documents and committees

required for reaffirmationrequired for reaffirmation Explanation of Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)Explanation of Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Relationship of Texas State’s planning and Relationship of Texas State’s planning and

assessment activities to SACS requirements for assessment activities to SACS requirements for reaffirmationreaffirmation

Clarification of department, college, division, Clarification of department, college, division, and university responsibilitiesand university responsibilities

Summary of Institutional Effectiveness Summary of Institutional Effectiveness CalendarCalendar

SACS Requirement ChangesSACS Requirement Changes Reaffirmation, not “reaccredidation”Reaffirmation, not “reaccredidation” Integrity and commitment to quality Integrity and commitment to quality

enhancement overriding principlesenhancement overriding principles Accreditation is self-regulatedAccreditation is self-regulated

Elimination of self studyElimination of self study Elimination of 462 “must statements”Elimination of 462 “must statements” Focus on student learningFocus on student learning Certification of Compliance and Quality Certification of Compliance and Quality

Enhancement PlanEnhancement Plan Quality improvement through ongoing Quality improvement through ongoing

process reviewprocess review

SACS RequirementsSACS Requirements Core RequirementsCore Requirements

Basic qualifications that an institution must Basic qualifications that an institution must meet to be accredited with the Commission on meet to be accredited with the Commission on CollegesColleges

Comprehensive StandardsComprehensive Standards Ensure that policies and procedures are in Ensure that policies and procedures are in

writing, approved through appropriate writing, approved through appropriate institutional processes, published, accessible, institutional processes, published, accessible, implemented, and enforcedimplemented, and enforced

Federal RequirementsFederal Requirements Requirements mandated by federal Requirements mandated by federal

government for all institutionsgovernment for all institutions

Meeting SACS RequirementsMeeting SACS RequirementsReview of SACS requirements at all Review of SACS requirements at all

university levelsuniversity levelsDetermination of individual Determination of individual

department responsibilitiesdepartment responsibilitiesCommunication with Institutional Communication with Institutional

Effectiveness and Leadership Team Effectiveness and Leadership Team Determining where each of us “fits Determining where each of us “fits

in”in”

Major Documents RequiredMajor Documents RequiredCompliance CertificationCompliance Certification

Once signed by the President and Once signed by the President and Accreditation Liaison, forms a “bond of Accreditation Liaison, forms a “bond of integrity” with the Commissionintegrity” with the Commission

Quality Enhancement PlanQuality Enhancement PlanDescribes a course of action for Describes a course of action for

institutional improvement crucial to institutional improvement crucial to enhancing educational quality that is enhancing educational quality that is directly related to student learningdirectly related to student learning

Major Committees InvolvedMajor Committees Involved Leadership TeamLeadership Team

An internal team that manages and validates the An internal team that manages and validates the institutional assessment of compliance with all Core institutional assessment of compliance with all Core Requirements and Comprehensive StandardsRequirements and Comprehensive Standards

Off-site Review CommitteeOff-site Review Committee An external team that reviews the submitted An external team that reviews the submitted

Compliance Certifications to determine if the institution Compliance Certifications to determine if the institution is in compliance with all requirements except QEPis in compliance with all requirements except QEP

On-site Review CommitteeOn-site Review Committee An external team that determines whether the An external team that determines whether the

institution is in compliance with the QEP and all institution is in compliance with the QEP and all requirements for which the report of the Off-site Review requirements for which the report of the Off-site Review Committee indicated as “non-compliance” or “did not Committee indicated as “non-compliance” or “did not review”review”

Quality Enhancement Plan Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)(QEP)

Outlines a Outlines a course of actioncourse of action for long for long term term institutional improvementinstitutional improvement with special attention to with special attention to student student learninglearning

QEP BasicsQEP BasicsWhat is submitted?What is submitted?Who’s involved?Who’s involved?What steps are included?What steps are included?

Determine theme & justifyDetermine theme & justifyConvene task force(s)Convene task force(s)Identify outcomes & assessmentIdentify outcomes & assessmentEstablish timelineEstablish timelineDraft QEP document Draft QEP document

Texas State ProcessesTexas State ProcessesHow doHow do

Texas State’s ongoing Texas State’s ongoing processes relate to SACS processes relate to SACS

reaffirmation?reaffirmation?

StrategicPlanning

Student LearningOutcomes

EducationalSupport

OutcomesAcademicProgramReview

EducationalCore

Assessment

SACSSACS ReaffirmationReaffirmation

Texas State AssessmentTexas State AssessmentTexas State Planning CalendarTexas State Planning Calendar

Academic department and school Academic department and school student learning outcomesstudent learning outcomes

Administrative division educational Administrative division educational support outcomessupport outcomes

Strategic planningStrategic planningSACS deadlinesSACS deadlines

Department, School, College, Department, School, College, Division, and University Division, and University

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities Internal process reviewInternal process review

Strategic planStrategic plan Student learning outcomesStudent learning outcomes Educational support outcomesEducational support outcomes

Ongoing assessment at all levelsOngoing assessment at all levels Participation in QEP processParticipation in QEP process SACS requirements reviewSACS requirements review DocumentationDocumentation Education at a DistanceEducation at a Distance

Questions and AnswersQuestions and AnswersContact InformationContact InformationDr. Cathy FleurietDr. Cathy Fleuriet

245-8113 245-8113 cf07@txstate.educf07@txstate.eduMs. Lisa GarzaMs. Lisa Garza

245-2780 245-2780 ag02@txstate.eduag02@txstate.eduDr. Beth WuestDr. Beth Wuest

245-2112 245-2112 wuest@txstate.eduwuest@txstate.edu