Envisioning AccreditationOctober 10, 2008

TEAM 2010

Background

• Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is our regional accrediting agency, which keeps the process in the hands of educators

• We’ve been on a 10-year cycle; the last major self-study was done in 1998-2000

• We received 3 recommendations that required action and a follow-up focus visit in 2003

Here at Centralia

• John Martens, VPI, is Accreditation Liaison Officer• Linda Foss, English Dept., is Chairing the Self-Study• A Steering Committee has been meeting since May

to facilitate the two-year organic process • Standards Teams have been formed to begin a year

of inquiry (2008/09)• Next year will involve self-analysis & synthesis• The resulting report will go to NWCCU July 2010• The NWCCU Accreditation Team will visit Oct. 2010

Our Goal

Having viewed the institution through the lens of NWCCU’s nine standards, and inquired into every aspect of the College, we will tell the truth about:

Who we are What we do

How we know

The Nine Standards

Provide a lens through which cross-campus teams will inquire and analyze the mission, goals, activities, and outcomes of Centralia College

The Standards

1. Mission and Goals2. Educational Programs3. Students4. Faculty5. Library

6. Governance7. Finance8. Physical Resources9. Integrity

CC’s Strategic Initiatives

• CC Board of Trustees installed the policy governance method of management in 2000

• Institutional Effectiveness (IE) Committee replaced College Council and Strategic Planning in 2001

• Strategic Initiatives have provided a rubric by which Centralia College monitors its progress

• These initiatives align with NWCCU’s accreditation standards

1 Institutional Integrity

1.1 Build an institution whose vision, mission and strategic initiatives drive its daily operations, provide for continuous improvement, and result in the highest ethical interactions with all its stakeholders.

1.2 Provide the highest quality educational services through continual analysis, assessment, and improvement.

2 Diversity

2.1 Foster an environment where differences among peoples and ideas are sought, explored, and treated with respect.

3 Governance

3.1 Ensure an inclusive governance system characterized by collaborative decision-making processes.

4 Physical Resources

4.1 Provide buildings and grounds that emanate the aura of higher education and engender pride by college employees and the community.

4.2 Provide educational spaces and technology that anticipate changing needs.

5 Finance

5.1 Diversify funding resources to provide a stable fiscal base.

6 Vitality & Climate

6.1 Provide opportunities that attract value, energize, and motivate faculty and staff.

6.2 Foster a positive work environment that encourages respect, integrity and ethical behavior.

6.3 Provide an environment where the faculty, staff, and students feel safe and secure.

7 Instruction

7.1 Foster a dynamic environment in which faculty and students expand the boundaries of teaching and learning.

7.2 Provide quality educational and cultural opportunities that meet the needs of students, faculty, staff, and the community.

8 Students

8.1 Provide a student-centered college environment that enhances college life and promotes success.

9 Information Technology& Library Resources

9.1 Provide access to information and technology resources that support teaching and enhance student learning.

10 Assessment

10.1 Integrate assessment into the continuing work of the college by ensuring that planning and decision-making are based on ongoing assessment of institutional goals and student learning.

11 Community Involvement

11.1 Foster recognition within the community that Centralia College is a college of the community, sought for its involvement in local and regional planning and economic development and looked to for its provision of intellectual discourse and cultural awareness.

11.2 Link college and students to downtown.

Warm-up

Is accreditation a curse or an opportunity?

Our Group’s Standard

• Our group will focus in on standard #XXX• ADD YOUR STANDARD HERE!!• ADD DETAILS HERE as needed

Question #1 for Today

Throughout this two-year process, if you could learn anything about Centralia College, what would that be?

Question #2 for Today

What comes to mind when you think about Centralia College in relation to ____standard?

Take Aways

• Once the group has brainstormed ideas from the two broad questions, facilitators may focus the discussion and provide a process for determining the 3-5 BIG ideas that emerged

• These Take Aways will be shared with the Steering Committee and Standards Teams as they begin the year of inquiry (2008/09)

Pledge Cards

• Interested in helping?• Please complete a pledge card• Helping can be as simple as– Organizing a meeting– Driving someone to/from the airport– Helping prepare documents– Helping organize binders– Assisting with one of the standards