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NWCCU ACCREDITATION SURVIVING THE SEVEN-YEAR CYCLE THROUGH PLANNING, COLLABORATION AND INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT Erin Aselas, Director, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
NWCCU ACCREDITATIONSURVIVING THE SEVEN-YEAR CYCLE THROUGH PLANNING, COLLABORATION AND INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT
Erin Aselas, Director, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
Established in 1978 Private, non-profit Multi-disciplinary,
health-sciences University
The main campus in Kenmore, WA (a suburb of Seattle) with an alternate location in San Diego, CA
Bastyr University
Natural Health Arts and Sciences Bachelor’s completion programs Master’s degree programs Professional doctoral degree programs Graduate and undergrad
certificate programs
Bastyr University’s Programs
Natural Health Arts and Sciences Naturopathic Medicine Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Nutrition Exercise Science Midwifery Health Psychology Herbal Sciences
Bastyr University’s Programs
Population = 1035 (fall ‘12 census) Median Age = 30 Graduate Level = 76.8% Undergrad Level = 23.2%
Bastyr University’s 2012 Student Body
Full-time faculty = 53 Part-time faculty = 112 Full-time staff = 218 Part-time staff = 152
Bastyr’s 2011 Staff and Faculty
Bastyr’s Timeline/Context Old Process:
Bastyr’s last comprehensive (full) self-study was in 2002
New Process March 2011: Submitted first year report March 2012: Submitted revised first, third, fifth
and seventh year reports (as one “comprehensive” self-study).
June 2012: Notified of reaffirmation of regional accreditation status by NWCCU
Coming up March 2013: First year report (again!)
Self-Study AuthorsPrimary Authors: Timothy C. Callahan, PhD, Senior Vice
President and ProvostErin Aselas, MBA, Director, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
Contributing Authors: University President, Vice Presidents, Deans, Department Chairs, Finance, Admissions, Registrar, HR, IT, Library, Facilities, Research, Continuing Ed,
Faculty Services and Course Assessments.
Other Contributors: Department Chairs, Marketing and Communications, and Board of Directors subcommittee on
EducationEditor: Pat Baird
Proofreader: Suzanne Chase
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Revised NWCCU Accreditation Cycle
First Year
Year 1 Report (Standard 1)
Third Year
Year 3 Report(Standard 2)Includes revised
Year 1
Seventh Year
Year 7 Report (Standards 3-
5)Includes revised
Years 1& 3
Site Visit
Site Visit
The Importance of Preplanning
Framework for the NWCCU Self-Study:
Planning: Components of our Self-Study
Mission & Vision
Strategic Plan Master Plan
Financial plan
Collaboration: The “Strategic Planning” Process 2007-2008 institution-wide process
involving all members of the Bastyr Community.
Primarily the administration and upper middle management staff
Academic deans and involved faculty Active students Board members Select line staff
Outcomes: 2007: Revised Mission and Vision Statements 2008: Six major strategic initiatives
Collaboration Deliberate and inclusive collaboration with
all concerned parties leads to a more robust self-study and generates a feeling of shared ownership and accountability.
The Importance of Strategic Plan
Don’t have a “real” strategic plan?
Get one! … But do it the “right way"
Methods for Completing the Self-Study
Development of Core Themes
Our Mission
We educate future leaders in the natural health arts and sciences. Respecting the healing power of nature and recognizing that body, mind and spirit are intrinsically
inseparable, we model an integrated approach to education, research and
clinical service.
Development of Core Themes
Core Themes = Mission
Mission = Core Themes
Keep the number low and keep it simple!
Development of Core Themes
Our Mission
We educate future leaders in the natural health arts and sciences. Respecting the healing power of nature and recognizing that body, mind and spirit are intrinsically
inseparable, we model an integrated approach to education, research and
clinical service.
Development of Core Themes
Our Mission
We educate future leaders in the natural health arts and sciences. Respecting the healing power of nature and recognizing that body, mind and spirit are intrinsically
inseparable, we model an integrated approach to education, research and
clinical service.
Development of Core Themes
Our Mission
We educate future leaders in the natural health arts and sciences. Respecting the healing power of nature and recognizing that body, mind and spirit are intrinsically
inseparable, we model an integrated approach to education, research and
clinical service.
Development of Core Themes
Our Mission
We educate future leaders in the natural health arts and sciences. Respecting the healing power of nature and recognizing that body, mind and spirit are intrinsically inseparable, we model an
to and
integrated approach education,researchclinical service.
Development of Core Themes
integrated approach
education
research
clinical service
Core Theme OneAcademic Achievement
Core Theme TwoResearch in the Natural Health Arts and Sciences
Core Theme ThreeClinical Training and Community Health
Core Theme FourInterdisciplinary Integration
Planning for Institutional Assessment Choosing measurements that are both
meaningful and reflective of an institution as a whole, simplify the self-study by generalizing outcomes.
Collaboration: Developing the Goals, Objectives and Indicators for each Core Theme Nearly all academic and support
departments were consulted during the development process to carefully select goals, objectives and indicators of achievement that appropriately support and measure the core themes in the NWCCU self-study and, ultimately, the mission of the University.
Results
Planning The strategic plan was the foundation for
Bastyr’s NWCCU self-study.
Collaboration The NWCCU site visitors commended
Bastyr on its “shared sense of purpose and dedication within the university community.”
Institutional Assessment Singular program or department specific
outcomes were grouped together to show comprehensive outcomes. The use of similar measures across departments and programs allowed indicators to be generalized yet still meaningful.
Lessons Learned & Tips
Hindsight:
Standards 3B and 4 ¡Ay, caramba, what a challenge that
was to understand what the commission wanted us to write about!
Feel free to use ours if you like it. Unfortunately not yet searchable on our site: http://
www2.bastyr.edu/ftp/strategic_planning/Bastyr_University_Comprehensive_Self-Evaluation_Report_2012.pdf
Maybe easier … there's a link on my LinkedIn page under “Projects”: http://www.linkedin.com/in/erinaselas
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Changing Indicators If they are not meaningful or flawed
indicators – change them … with explanation.
Try to involve all students, faculty, and staff in the process We were praised greatly for this.
Deans Faculty Administration Staff Administration Board members Email/Hallway posters Students
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Site Visit: Treat your Site Visitors as… Guests Make it is easy for your site visitors.
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Site Visit: Preparing your Staff/Faculty Explain to your staff/faculty the
importance of this process.
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Site Visit: Scheduling Meetings Build a schedule around student
and faculty schedules first
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Site Visit: Supporting Documents 90% electronic documents (soft copies) 10% paper documents (hard copies)
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Site Visit: Be Candid Don’t be afraid to discuss candidly your
shortcomings… at the same time be smart about it.
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Or Feel Free to Share Your Own Ideas
Q & A
