Overview of the Revised Accreditation Overview of the Revised Accreditation Standards and New Oversight ProcessStandards and New Oversight Process

Ronald L. BakerRonald L. Baker

Executive Vice President and Director,Executive Vice President and Director,Standards Revision and Implementation ProjectStandards Revision and Implementation Project

IntentionIntention

Provide UpdateProvoke ThoughtPromote Dialogue

IncongruenceIncongruence

Most of us do not look as handsome to others as we do to ourselves.

Assiniboine Tribal Proverb

DefinitionDefinition

Regional accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental process of self analysis and peer review that assures educational quality and encourages purposeful improvement through evaluations based on institutional mission, accepted academic standards, and expectations of the public.

Stakeholder InterpretationStakeholder Interpretation

Accreditation has not served to ensure quality, has not protected the curriculum

from serious degradation, and gives students, parents, and public decision-

makers almost no useful information about institutions of higher education.

Anne D. Neal

Administrative InterpretationAdministrative Interpretation

[Accreditation] is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it

incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.Ernest Benn

Faculty InterpretationFaculty Interpretation

We put the ‘no’ in innovation.Post Shredded Wheat Commercial

RedirectionRedirection

When you discover you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.

Dakota Tribal Proverb

ImpedimentImpediment

Tradition is the enemy of progress.Wilcomb Washburn (Seen in 1952 on Navajo Nation boarding school)

SubstitutionSubstitution

What we call ‘progress’ is the exchange of one nuisance for another nuisance.

Havelock Ellis

Homo AcademicusHomo Academicus

Most people are in favor of progress; it’s the changes they don’t like.

Anonymous

BalanceBalance

The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.

Alfred North Whitehead

BarometerBarometer

You can judge your age by the amount of pain you feel when you come in contact with a new idea.

Pearl Buck

PerspectivePerspective

The challenge is for us to see beyond the innumerable fragments to the whole,

stepping back far enough to appreciate how things move and change as a coherent entity.

Margaret Wheatley

MethodologyMethodology

Method consists of two correlative and complementary processes: 1) Analysis 1) Analysis

of complex totalities into their parts; and 2) Synthesis 2) Synthesis of parts into their totality.

However, the two processes by themselves are imperfect and require each other for the full development of

knowledge and understanding.Joseph L. Esposito

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

AnalysisAnalysis

Reductionistic

Take Apart

Isolate

Knowledgeof

Function

SynthesisSynthesisHolistic

Put Together

Correlate

Understandingof

Purpose

StandardStandard

An accreditation standard is a principle-based statement of expectations for institutional practice that concurrently:1) Functions as an indicator of educational quality and effectiveness by which institutions are evaluated; and 2) Provides guidance for continuous improvement.

New Accreditation StandardsNew Accreditation Standards

Standard One:Standard One:Mission, Manifestations, and Expectations

Standard Two:Standard Two:Resources and Capacity

Standard Three:Standard Three:Planning and Implementation

Standard Four:Standard Four:Effectiveness and Improvement

Standard Five:Standard Five:Mission Fulfillment, Sustainability, and Adaptation

Core ThemeCore Theme

A core theme is a manifestation of a fundamental aspect of institutional mission with an overarching common purpose that guides planning for programs and services, development of capacity, and application of resources to fulfill that aspect of the mission.

Architecture of the Revised NWCCU Standards

Standard One: Mission, Manifestations, and Expectations Explication of Mission, Core Themes, Goals, and Intended Outcomes

T

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. . .

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. . .

Standard Two: Resources and Capacity Examination of Major Institutional Systems

Standard Three: Planning and Implementation Institutional and Core Theme Planning to Apply Resources and Capacity

Standard Five: Mission Fulfillment, Sustainability, and Adaptation Evaluate Mission Fulfillment; Evaluate Adaptability to Change;

Determine Confidence for Future Relevance, Success, and Viability

Standard Four: Effectiveness and Improvement Assess Achievement in Core Themes with Results Used for Improvement

Secti

on A

Secti

on B

Secti

on C

IntegrationIntegration

Communities of Functionand

Communities of Interest

DistillationDistillation

Institutional MissionInstitutional Mission

Core Theme ObjectivesCore Theme Objectives

ProgramsPrograms//Services Goals or Intended OutcomesServices Goals or Intended Outcomes

Intentions of Contributing ComponentsIntentions of Contributing Components

T

hem

e 1

Human Resources

Education Resources

Student Support Resources

Library and Information Resources

Financial Resources

Physical and Technical Infrastructure

Governance

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...

Analysis and Synthesis Embedded in the Accreditation StandardsRevised April 11, 2009

Standard One: Mission, Manifestations, and ExpectationsExplication of Mission, Core Themes, Objectives, and Achievement Indicators

Standard Three: Planning and ImplementationInstitutional and Core Theme Planning to Apply Resources and Capacity

Theme 1 Theme 2 Theme 3 . . . Theme N

Governance ↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓

HumanResources

↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓

EducationResources

↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓

StudentSupport

Resources ↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓

Library andInformationResources

↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓

FinancialResources

↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓

Physical andTechnical

Infrastructure ↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓ → ← ↓

↓ ↓ Theme 1 Theme 2 Theme 3 . . . Theme N↓ ↓ Standard Four: Effectiveness and Improvement↓ ↓ Assess Achievement in Core Themes with Results Used for Improvement

Standard Five: Mission Fulfillment, Sustainability, and AdaptationEvaluate Mission Fulfillment; Evaluate Adaptability to Change

Determine Confidence for Future Relevance, Success, and Viability

Exam

inat

ion

of M

ajor

Inst

itutio

nal S

yste

ms

Standard Two

DiscernmentDiscernment

Core Themeor

Embedded Value

ExamplesExamples

AccessQuality

Student SuccessFaith Formation

EnforcementEnforcement

You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone.

Alphonse Capone

Standard One: Mission, Manifestations, and

Expectations

1

Report on Standard One; No Visit Report reviewed by panel of evaluators; Findings forwarded to

Board of Commissioners.

Standard Two: Resources and Capacity

3

Expand Report on Standard One to Include Standard Two; Committee Visit to Address

Standards One and Two

Standard Three: Planning and Implementation;

Standard Four: Effectiveness and

Improvement

5

Expand Report on Standards One and Two to Include Standards Three and Four; No Visit

Report reviewed by panel of evaluators with particular attention on Standards Three and Four; Findings forwarded to

Board of Commissioners.

Standard Five: Mission Fulfillment,

Sustainability, and Adaptation

7

Expand Report on Standards One, Two, Three, and Four to Include Standard Five; Committee Visit to Address

Standards Three, Four, and Five

Septennial Accreditation Cycle

ProcessYearStandard

Year Three CommitteeYear Three Committee

ChairMission, Core Themes, ObjectivesGovernance

EvaluatorEducation Resources

EvaluatorStudent Support ResourcesHuman Resources

EvaluatorLibrary and Information Resources

EvaluatorFinancial ResourcesPhysical and Technical Infrastructure

Year Seven CommitteeYear Seven Committee

ChairMission FulfillmentAdaptationSustainability

EvaluatorsOne Evaluator for Each Core Theme

Reporting StructureReporting Structure

Biennial reports reflect institutional reality throughout the accreditation cycle

Approved changes incorporated in next scheduled report with previous chapters modified to reflect those changes

Reduced need for interim reports/visits

Year Seven report reflects current reality over all standards and provides a foundation for the next cycle

Pilot InstitutionsPilot Institutions

Carroll CollegeColumbia Basin CollegeUniversity of Alaska AnchorageWenatchee Valley College

Due Date Process Review and Action

March 1, 2009 Year One Report to Address Standard One Executive Committee (March 2009)

September 1, 2009 Year Three Report and Visit: Expand Year One Report to Include Standard Two; October Visit to Address

Standards One and Two

Board of Commissioners (January 2010)

March 1, 2010 Year Five Report: Expand Year Three Report to Include Standards Three and Four.

Executive Committee (March 2010)

September 1, 2010 Year Seven Report and Visit: Expand Year Five Report to Include Standard Five; October Visit to

Address Standards Three, Four, and Five

Board of Commissioners (January 2011)

Calendar for Pilot Institutions

a Institutions scheduled for comprehensive visits in 2009 or 2010 will be evaluated under the current standards and processb For 2011 reports and visits on all standards institutions may elect to be evaluated under the current standards or the revised standards

Septennial Schedule

Conversion Calendar - Accredited InstitutionsRevised February 12, 2009

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

a2009 Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 7 Year 1 a2010 Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 7 Year 1

2011 bAll

Standards Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 7

2012 Year 1 All Standards Year 1 Year 3 Year 5

2013 Year 1 Year 3 Year 7 Year 1 Year 3 Year 5

2014 Year 1 Year 3 Year 7 Year 1 Year 3 Year 5

2015 Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 7 Year 1 Year 3

2016 Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 7 Year 1 Year 3

2017 Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 7 Year 1

2018 Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 7 Year 1

Fall 2010

Spring 2011

Fall 2011

Spring 2012

Fall 2012

Spring 2013

Fall 2013

Fall 2010

aAll Standards

Spring 2011

bAll Standards

Fall 2011

bAll Standards

Spring 2012

Fall 2012

bAll Standards

Spring 2013

bAll Standards

Fall 2013

bAll Standards

Conversion Calendar - Candidate InstitutionsSeptennial Schedule

a For Fall 2010 reports and visits, institutions may address the current standards or the revised standards.b Beginning in spring 2011, only the revised standards will be used.

Accreditation Events and Cost Comparison

*Average ten-year total for institutions with comprehensive visits; Does not include institutions with multiple comprehensive visits.1Combined total of progress reports and focused, regular, and comprehensive reports and visits.2Combined total of focused , regular, and comprehensive visit evaluators.

Season Progress Focused Total Total Septennial SeptennialReports Visits Events Evaluators Events Evaluators

Spring 2007 1.9 1.9 5.7 13.3 4 6+Themes

Fall 2007 1.6 1.6 5.1 13.9 4 6+Themes

Spring 2008 2.7 2.2 6.9 12.6 4 6+Themes

Fall 2008 1.9 1.7 5.6 13.6 4 6+Themes

Average 2.0 1.8 5.8 13.3 4 6+Themes

Year One ReportYear One Report

Title PageTitle PageTitle of ReportInstitution NameDate

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsIntroduction Introduction (1 page maximum)(1 page maximum)

Institutional Context Institutional Context (1 page maximum)(1 page maximum)

PrefacePrefaceBrief Update on Institutional Changes Since Last Report

Address Topics Requested By the Commission

Year One ReportYear One Report (continued) (continued)

Section I: Mission Section I: Mission (3 Pages Maximum)(3 Pages Maximum)

Mission StatementMission Core ThemesDefinition of Fulfillment of Mission and, Within that Definition, Interpretation of an Acceptable Threshold or Extent of Mission Fulfillment.Date and Manner of Most Recent Review of Mission and Core Themes

Year One ReportYear One Report (continued) (continued)

Section II: Core ThemesSection II: Core ThemesFor each Core Theme: [3 Pages Maximum Per Theme]

Title and DescriptionObjectivesIndicators of Achievement of ObjectivesRationale as to Why the Indicators are Assessable and Meaningful Measures of AchievementSection III: Chapter One SummarySection III: Chapter One Summary (1 Page Maximum)(1 Page Maximum)

Year Three ReportYear Three Report

Update Preface and Expand Year One Report to Include:Chapter Two Chapter Two (Standard Two: Resources and Capacity)(Standard Two: Resources and Capacity)

Section I: GovernanceSection II: Human ResourcesSection III: Education ResourcesSection IV: Student Support ResourcesSection V: Library and Information ResourcesSection VI: Financial ResourcesSection VII: Physical and Technical InfrastructureSection VIII: Chapter Two Summary

Report Summary Report Summary (Chapters One and Two)(Chapters One and Two)

Year Five ReportYear Five Report

Update Preface and Expand Year Three Report to Include:Chapter ThreeChapter Three (Standard Three: Planning and Implementation)(Standard Three: Planning and Implementation)

Section I: Institutional PlanningSection II: Core Theme Planning

For each Core Theme:Integration with Strategic PlanAlignment of Resources and Capacity

For Educational Programs within Core Theme:Undergraduate ProgramsGraduate ProgramsContinuing Education and Non-Credit Programs

Section III: Chapter Three Summary

Year Five Report Year Five Report (continued)(continued)

Update Preface and Expand Year Three Report to Include:Chapter FourChapter Four (Standard Four: Effectiveness and Improvement)(Standard Four: Effectiveness and Improvement)

Section I: Assessment - For each Core ThemeAlignment of Objectives, Resources, and CapacityAssessment of Achievement Core Theme Objectives and Goals/Outcomes of Programs and ServicesFor Educational Programs

Program AssessmentStudent Learning Assessment

Use of Results for ImprovementCore Theme Summary

Section II: Chapter Four SummaryReport Summary Report Summary (Chapters One, Two, Three, and Four)(Chapters One, Two, Three, and Four)

Year Seven ReportYear Seven Report

Update Preface and Expand Year Five Report to Include:Chapter Five Chapter Five (Mission Fulfillment, Sustainability, and Adaptation)(Mission Fulfillment, Sustainability, and Adaptation)

Section I: Mission FulfillmentSection II: Adaptation and SustainabilitySection III: Chapter Five Summary

Report Summary Report Summary (Chapters One, Two, Three, Four, and Five)(Chapters One, Two, Three, Four, and Five)

Outstanding IssuesOutstanding Issues

All requests for 2011 or later ARFE, Progress, Focused, and Regular reports will be rescinded.

Each institution will address the subject(s) of those requests as an addendum to its 2011 report under the new standards and process.

TimelineTimeline

Spring Refine StandardsLate Spring Penultimate DraftJuly Final Board ReviewSummer Finalize StandardsFall Regional MeetingsLate Fall Membership VoteJanuary 2010 Board RatificationJanuary 2011 Implementation

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.Judy Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum)

Just when I knew all of life's answers,they changed the questions.

Anonymous

Change is not made without inconvenienceSamuel Johnson

If you’re going through hell, keep going.Winston Churchill

General Comments and QuestionsGeneral Comments and Questions