CEPA Programs – Accrediting Concerns

Presenters: Dr. Deborah Loper, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness at Colorado Mountain CollegeDr. Sandy Veltri, Vice President of Academic and Student Services at Front Range Community College

February 4, 2015, CACTA Conference

A little about ourselves and the “Peer Review Process”

Our service with the Higher Learning Commission

What is a “Peer Reviewer” and why are there so many new rules concerning dual enrollment?

What does a partnership between a college and school district involve and who is responsible for filing the appropriate paperwork?

ObjectivesInform participants of accreditation requirements

Discuss opportunities for high schools and community colleges to partner in providing opportunities to secondary students

Colorado is part of the North Central Association regional accrediting body known as the Higher Learning Commission

New Criteria – New Process

Effective January 1, 2013, the Criteria for Accreditation changed and so did processes, i.e., the Program to Evaluate and Advance Quality (PEAQ) started to phase out and “Pathways” was implemented.

The Guidelines for Dual Credit for Institutions and Peer Reviewers was published in January 2014.http://policy.ncahlc.org/Policies/criteria-for-accreditation.html http://www.ncahlc.org/Peer-Review/peer-review-team-resources.html

Myth or FactA college can offer as many credits as

it wants at a high school site without prior approval from HLC.

If 50% or more of a certificate or degree is offered at a high school site, the college must obtain prior approval by filing a “substantive change form.”

High school teachers do not have to have the same credentials as postsecondary instructors.

HLC will review credentials of ALL faculty/ instructors who teach dually enrolled courses.

MythFact

Myth

Fact

Areas Peer Reviewers will seek Evidence of Criterion Compliance

Criterion Three: Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support, specifically Core Component 3.A. The institution’s degree programs are appropriate to higher education and 3.C. The institution has the faculty and staff needed for effective, high-quality programs and student services.

Criterion Four. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement, specifically Core Component 4.A. The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs.

Evidence that will be reviewedInputs: Student eligibility, faculty

credentials, funding and curriculum standards.

Processes: General oversight, faculty orientation and training, institutional review and monitoring and state review and monitoring.

Outputs: Learning outcomes, transferability, and program and course outcomes.

College’s ResponsibilitiesReview your Institutional Status

and Requirements Report to make sure that all sites are listed.

If the college is offering 50%+ of a certificate or degree at a high school site, file the “Request for access to the Notification Program for additional locations” – especially if you expect to be adding multiple high school sites.

Talk with the individual at your college who is the HLC liaison and he/she will help fill out and send the proper paperwork to the HLC staff liaison.

The Need for a Strong PartnershipTo assist secondary students in:Enrolling in collegeBeing “college ready” at enrollment

Persisting in collegehttp://www2.ed.gov/PDFDocs/college-completion/09-community-college-and-high-school-partnerships.pdf

What Makes a Strong Partnership?Goals and activities to undertake:Design initiatives that provide access to existing & regular college resources

Develop programs specific to the high school partner’s needs, i.e., CTE pathways, summer bridge programs and Early and Middle College high schools

Questions/Contact InformationDeborah Loperdloper@coloradomtn.edu

Sandy VeltriSandy.Veltri@frontrange.edu