How to transform an institution to fully accept and embrace accreditation

Jean Marc RejaudAssociate Professor

Baker School of Business and TechnologyFashion Institute of Technology

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

Baker School of Business and Technology at FIT• 1944 - FIT opens with 100 students for the Fashion industry• 1951 – SUNY member• 1963 – FIT has 4000 students• 2003 - FIT School of Business and Technology is created• 2006 – Renamed Jay and Patty Baker School of Business

and Technology• 2016 – Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and

Technology• 4600 students (57% of all FIT students)• 300+ FT and PT Faculty• 13 programs @ACBSPAccredited

#ACBSP2016

Baker School of Business and Technology – The Context

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Baker School Enrolments# of students

Baker School Enrolments

Accreditation Idea Genesis

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

2012 B&T School Strategic Review – Curricular Process Recommendations:• Accelerate and streamline curricular

process• Expanding course formats• New courses testing process• Strategic Plans alignment• Obtain Accreditation from ACBSP

Baker School of Business and Technology, Accreditation and Faculty?

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

Why accreditation? All is fine.

I really do not have the

time. Hey…I know how to teach.

Who are those ACBSP

people anyway?

Baker School of Business and Technology, Accreditation and Faculty?

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

Several “Buy-In” Issues To Manage

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

• Quality Management Need recognition

• Value recognition

• Resources allocation feasibility

• Credibility

3 Core Principles

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

• Inherent value of Quality Management

• “L’appétit vient en mangeant”Rabelais 1534

• The more people engaged, the faster…the better

2 Core Approaches

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

• Pull

• Push

Which means…

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

Need Recognition

Value Recognition

Feasibility Credibility

Pull Faculty and staff involvement

Faculty and staff involvement

Strict Project Management

Faculty-Owned project

Strong leadership support

Strict Project Management

Push New key management processes

New key management processes

Multi-levels communications

Multi-levels communications

PULL Strategies

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

Project “Credibility” Through Faculty-owned and led approach

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

Jean Marc RejaudAssociate Professor

Advertising and Marketing Communications

Robert ReidAssistant Professor

Fashion Business Management

Project “Credibility” Through Strong Leadership Support

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

Steven FrumkinDean

Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology

Giacomo (Jack) OlivaVice President for Academic Affairs at

the Fashion Institute of Technology

Project “Credibility” and “Feasibility” Through Best Practices-Based Project Management

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

• One committee per standard• One steering committee with

accreditation co-chairs and stdt committee chairs

• One advisory committee with upper management

• Bi-weekly meetings for steering committee

Project “Need And Value Recognition” Through A Deep Faculty And Staff Involvement

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

PUSH Strategies

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

Project “Value Recognition” Through Aggressive Upgrade Of Key Methods and Processes

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

Project “Value Recognition” Through Aggressive Upgrade Of Key Methods and Processes

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

Project “Credibility” Through Multi Levels Communication

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

• ACBSP Mentor visits

Project “Credibility” Through Multi Levels Communication

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

• B&T School Lunches

Project “Credibility” Through Multi Levels Communication

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

• Celebration events

Wine, Cheese, and ACBSP Accreditation Soirée

All B&T Faculty are encouraged to join a gathering for wine, cheese, socializing with your colleagues, and updates on the status of our ACBSP Accreditation process.

March 8, 2016 5:00 – 6:30 pm

8th floor of Dubinsky

Come learn about how the underlying principles of the ACBSP accreditation process has benefited your colleagues thus far, and how this initiative will benefit students, faculty, and our school as we move forward. Bring your curiosity and questions! After an overview and status update, we will circulate and address Q&A as you mingle with colleagues. The Dean, Assistant Dean, and ACBSP Chairs and Accreditation Committee Members will be available and eager to answer your questions.

Please RSVP no later than Thursday, March 3

at http://goo.gl/forms/dvAL0fLEUt

Project “Credibility” Through Multi Levels Communication

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

• Newsletter and emails

So…Baker School of Business and Technology, Accreditation and Faculty?

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

Key Take-Aways

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

• Quality Management just makes sense!• Surround your self with a core team of change agents• Deep and constant faculty and staff involvement is

mandatory• Be flexible…very flexible• Don’t just Pull …You have to have the courage to Push

sometimes• Do not allow criticism on the lack of proper project

management…Have a best-in-class project management• Do not let the Nay Sayers have the last word …because

they can not.

Thank You

@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016