SACS Reaffirmation of SACS Reaffirmation of AccreditationAccreditation

7/28/09 Academic Affairs Retreat7/28/09 Academic Affairs RetreatCathy SandersCathy Sanders

Director of AssessmentDirector of Assessment

Overview of PresentationOverview of Presentation

• Components of the Reaffirmation of Components of the Reaffirmation of Accreditation ProcessAccreditation Process

• The Reaffirmation ProcessThe Reaffirmation Process

• The QEPThe QEP

• Committee Structure for QEPCommittee Structure for QEP

• TimelineTimeline

• Q & AQ & A

Components of Reaffirmation Components of Reaffirmation of Accreditationof Accreditation

• Compliance CertificationCompliance Certification

• Focused ReportFocused Report

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

Compliance Certification Compliance Certification • Equivalent to the old SACS Self-StudyEquivalent to the old SACS Self-Study

• Consists of Core Requirements, Consists of Core Requirements, Comprehensive Standards and Federal Comprehensive Standards and Federal Requirements (78 total)Requirements (78 total)

• We determine our degree of compliance We determine our degree of compliance (compliance, partial compliance, non-(compliance, partial compliance, non-compliance) with each of the requirements compliance) with each of the requirements and standards.and standards.

• We evidence compliance on each via a brief We evidence compliance on each via a brief narrative and supporting documentation.narrative and supporting documentation.

Compliance CertificationCompliance Certification• The University must comply with all Core The University must comply with all Core

Requirements to have accreditation Requirements to have accreditation reaffirmed.reaffirmed.

• If university is judged to be significantly out of If university is judged to be significantly out of compliance on one or more of the compliance on one or more of the Comprehensive Standards, its reaffirmation of Comprehensive Standards, its reaffirmation of accreditation may be denied.accreditation may be denied.

• Denial of reaffirmation of accreditation is Denial of reaffirmation of accreditation is accompanied by the imposition of a sanction accompanied by the imposition of a sanction (a warning or probation); accreditation is (a warning or probation); accreditation is continued while University works to come into continued while University works to come into compliance.compliance.

Focused ReportFocused Report

• Addresses the findings of the Off-Site Addresses the findings of the Off-Site Committee regarding the institution’s Committee regarding the institution’s compliance with the Core compliance with the Core Requirements, Comprehensive Requirements, Comprehensive Standards and Federal Standards.Standards and Federal Standards.

• It is an additional opportunity to It is an additional opportunity to evidence compliance through evidence compliance through stronger documentation.stronger documentation.

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

• Plan that focuses on an issue the institution Plan that focuses on an issue the institution considers important to improving student considers important to improving student learning.learning.

• Requires widespread participation by all Requires widespread participation by all institutional constituent groups-faculty, institutional constituent groups-faculty, administrators, students, alumni and trustees administrators, students, alumni and trustees in selecting the focus.in selecting the focus.

• Limited to 75 pages of narrative and 25 pages Limited to 75 pages of narrative and 25 pages of appendices.of appendices.

Reaffirmation ProcessReaffirmation Process• UNC Charlotte submits Compliance UNC Charlotte submits Compliance

Certification to SACS COC.Certification to SACS COC.

• Two months later an Off-Site Committee of Two months later an Off-Site Committee of peer evaluators meets in Atlanta to review peer evaluators meets in Atlanta to review the report and determine UNC Charlotte’s the report and determine UNC Charlotte’s compliance with each of the SACS compliance with each of the SACS requirements and standards.requirements and standards.

• Within two weeks of Off-Site Committee Within two weeks of Off-Site Committee review, SACS COC will conduct a conference review, SACS COC will conduct a conference call with Joan & Phil to provide a summary call with Joan & Phil to provide a summary of their findings (no written summary of their findings (no written summary provided).provided).

Reaffirmation ProcessReaffirmation Process

• If necessary, UNC Charlotte prepares a Focused If necessary, UNC Charlotte prepares a Focused Report providing stronger evidence on non-compliant Report providing stronger evidence on non-compliant requirements and standards.requirements and standards.

• On-Site Committee receives the Focused Report On-Site Committee receives the Focused Report about four weeks prior to the site visit and discusses, about four weeks prior to the site visit and discusses, via conference call whether Focused Report is via conference call whether Focused Report is satisfactory. If not, On-Site Committee arranges to satisfactory. If not, On-Site Committee arranges to meet with key people during site visit to discuss any meet with key people during site visit to discuss any remaining non-compliant requirements and remaining non-compliant requirements and standards.standards.

• At conclusion of site visit, On-Site Committee writes a At conclusion of site visit, On-Site Committee writes a Recommendation for any requirement or standard Recommendation for any requirement or standard that UNC Charlotte has not demonstrated compliance that UNC Charlotte has not demonstrated compliance with.with.

• SACS COC renders decision on University’s SACS COC renders decision on University’s Reaffirmation of Accreditation at their annual Reaffirmation of Accreditation at their annual meeting in December.meeting in December.

QEP TopicsQEP Topics

Examples of topics: Examples of topics:

• enhancing the academic climate for student learning, enhancing the academic climate for student learning,

• strengthening the general studies curriculum,strengthening the general studies curriculum,

• developing creative approaches to experiential developing creative approaches to experiential learning,learning,

• enhancing critical thinking skills,enhancing critical thinking skills,

• introducing innovative teaching and learning introducing innovative teaching and learning strategies,strategies,

• increasing student engagement in learning, increasing student engagement in learning,

• exploring imaginative ways to use technology in the exploring imaginative ways to use technology in the curriculum. curriculum.

QEP & Strategic PlanningQEP & Strategic Planning• The QEP should complement the institution’s The QEP should complement the institution’s

ongoing integrated institution-wide planning and ongoing integrated institution-wide planning and evaluation processes. evaluation processes.

• It need not be a brand new idea:It need not be a brand new idea:

It might extend, modify, redirect, or strengthen an It might extend, modify, redirect, or strengthen an improvement that is already underway.improvement that is already underway.

It might be an initiative that was in the planning stages It might be an initiative that was in the planning stages prior to the beginning of preparations for reaffirmation.prior to the beginning of preparations for reaffirmation.

However, it may not describes initiatives that are However, it may not describes initiatives that are already fully realized.already fully realized.

Steps in Developing the QEPSteps in Developing the QEP

• Select the TopicSelect the Topic

• Define the Student Learning OutcomesDefine the Student Learning Outcomes

• Research the Topic Research the Topic

• Identify the Actions to be Implemented Identify the Actions to be Implemented

• Establish the Timeline for ImplementationEstablish the Timeline for Implementation

• Organize for SuccessOrganize for Success

• Identify Necessary ResourcesIdentify Necessary Resources

• Assess the Success of the QEPAssess the Success of the QEP

• Prepare the QEP for Submission to SACSPrepare the QEP for Submission to SACS

Time Needed to Develop a Time Needed to Develop a QEPQEP

• Developing a QEP is a reflective planning and Developing a QEP is a reflective planning and writing process that requires:writing process that requires:

• time to determine an appropriate focus that time to determine an appropriate focus that allows for extensive investigation, discussion allows for extensive investigation, discussion and refinement.and refinement.

• time to develop drafts to be circulated, debated time to develop drafts to be circulated, debated and revised in ways that continue to gather and and revised in ways that continue to gather and build support for the QEP.build support for the QEP.

• The focus and framework of the QEP will shift and The focus and framework of the QEP will shift and evolve as a result of research, writing, discussion evolve as a result of research, writing, discussion and and widespreadwidespread campus participation. campus participation.

• Two years or more is recommended.Two years or more is recommended.

Leadership TeamLeadership Team

Leadership Team is charged with:Leadership Team is charged with:

• Overseeing preparation of the Compliance Overseeing preparation of the Compliance Certification Certification

• Identifying the focus of the QEP Identifying the focus of the QEP

• Overseeing the development of the QEPOverseeing the development of the QEP

• The LeadershipThe Leadership Team may wish to assign the Team may wish to assign the day-to-day responsibility for development of the day-to-day responsibility for development of the QEP to a Steering Committee comprised of a QEP to a Steering Committee comprised of a select group of individuals who:select group of individuals who:

have the greatest knowledge about and have the greatest knowledge about and interest in the ideas, content, processes, and interest in the ideas, content, processes, and methodologies to be developed in the QEPmethodologies to be developed in the QEP

have expertise in planning and assessmenthave expertise in planning and assessment

have responsibility for managing and allocating have responsibility for managing and allocating institutional resourcesinstitutional resources

QEP Steering CommitteeQEP Steering Committee• Charged with task of developing and drafting the Charged with task of developing and drafting the

QEP document. QEP document.

• Often accomplishes its work through sub-Often accomplishes its work through sub-committees that focus on developing particular committees that focus on developing particular aspects of the QEP such as: aspects of the QEP such as:

Literature reviewLiterature review

Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

Assessment planAssessment plan

BudgetBudget

Marketing planMarketing plan

Important Dates Related to SACS Important Dates Related to SACS Reaffirmation ProcessReaffirmation Process

June 2011 June 2011 SACS Liaison Orients Leadership SACS Liaison Orients Leadership TeamTeam

September 10, 2012 September 10, 2012 Compliance Certification Compliance Certification DueDue

November 5-8, 2012 November 5-8, 2012 Off-Site Review Conducted Off-Site Review Conducted

Six wks before Site Visit Six wks before Site Visit QEP & Focused Report Due QEP & Focused Report Due (Dec. 2012-Feb. 2013)(Dec. 2012-Feb. 2013)

Feb., Mar., or April 2013 Feb., Mar., or April 2013 On-Site VisitOn-Site Visit

December 2013December 2013 Reaffirmation Decision Made Reaffirmation Decision Made

Something to Consider…Something to Consider…

• Many of the staff involved in developing Many of the staff involved in developing the QEP will also be involved in the QEP will also be involved in developing the Compliance Certification developing the Compliance Certification and the Focused Report.and the Focused Report.

• Waiting until the SACS Orientation in Waiting until the SACS Orientation in June 2011 to begin the process allows June 2011 to begin the process allows only 1.5 years to accomplish everything. only 1.5 years to accomplish everything. Those who have gone before us Those who have gone before us recommend 2 years or more to develop recommend 2 years or more to develop a QEP.a QEP.

RecommendationRecommendation• 2009-2010 Develop 2010-2015 2009-2010 Develop 2010-2015

Strategic/Academic PlanStrategic/Academic Plan

• 2010-2011 Draft Compliance Certification2010-2011 Draft Compliance Certification

• 2011 – Site Visit2011 – Site Visit

Update Compliance CertificationUpdate Compliance Certification

Prepare Focused ReportPrepare Focused Report

Develop QEPDevelop QEP

Make preparations for SACS On-Site Review Make preparations for SACS On-Site Review Committee VisitCommittee Visit

QuestionsQuestions