OM! It’s HLC!
You will be able to…
• Explain the purpose of Accreditation.
• Explain the purpose of the Self-Study.
• Identify the Criteria for Accreditation.
• Consider a Criterion for participation.
• Describe your role in accomplishing Rio’s Mission.
• Explain your role in the Accreditation process.
• Prepare for the HLC site visit on March 5-7, 2012.
Objectives
Accreditation Overview
What is accreditation?
• Rio Salado College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an independent corporation and one of two commissions of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).
• NCA is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
• It is a Peer Review Process, not a Government Process.
• It is an evaluative process, which includes setting goals and standards, conducting evaluations, and making improvements.
Self-Study 101
Telling Our Story
Purpose of a Self-Study
A Self-Study provides an opportunity for an institution to
formally examine itself and assess its strengths and
challenges in accomplishing its mission.
At Rio Salado College, the Self-Study process is based on the
College’s foundation of Relentless Improvement (R.I.).
Who’s Involved
• President Chris Bustamante
• Self-Study Co-Chairs are:
o Vernon Smith, Vice President Academic Affairs
o Hazel Davis, Faculty Chair, Library
• Self-Study Planning Team includes:
o College President
o Co-Chairs
o Sharon Koberna, Dean, Employee & Administrative Services
o Jennifer Shantz, Faculty Chair, Curriculum
o Genevieve Winters, Director of Institutional Effectiveness
o Nicole Albo, Associate Dean, Instruction & Healthcare Professions
Add
group
picture
here??
Steering Committee Members include:
•Planning Team Members
•Criterion Tri-Chairs:
Criterion One: Chris Bustamante, Angela Felix, Sharon Koberna
Criterion Two: Todd Simmons, Dana Reid, Kerrie Specker
Criterion Three: Pat Case, Jo Jorgenson, Kishia Brock
Criterion Four: Rick Kemp, Kirk Bowden, John Jensen
Criterion Five: Edward Kelty, Ron Burns, Melanie Abts
Every
College
Employee!!
What will the Self-Study
Accomplish?
Through the evaluative Self-Study and the ongoing efforts of
Quality Assurance (Q.A.), the College will increase:
o Student Learning
o Efficiency and Effectiveness of Programs
o Student and Partner Success
o Involvement of Key Stakeholders
PDCA Cycle
How do we conduct our
Self-Study?
• Using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle
o A process of continuous improvement; one that is never-ending; a practice to relentlessly improve a product or service
• PLAN: Develop a hypothesis or theory, review data, and plan a change/intervention
• DO: Carry out the change/intervention and observe the data
• CHECK: Compare data to theory and summarize knowledge
• ACT: Review the hypothesis or theory, then change process permanently
Quality Assurance (Q.A.) and
Relentless Improvement (R.I.)
• Q.A. = Meeting or exceeding targets set by the college-level
process owners and agreed to by leadership.
• R.I. = Achieving targets set by the college-level process
owners and leadership that are likely to need continual
attention and progress.
The Criteria
Criterion One:
Mission and Integrity
The organization operates with integrity to
ensure the fulfillment of its mission through
structures and processes that involve the
board, administration, faculty, staff, and
students.
Criterion Two:
Preparing for the Future
The organization’s allocation of resources and its
processes for evaluation and planning
demonstrate its capacity to fulfill its mission,
improve the quality of its education, and
respond to future challenges and
opportunities.
Criterion Three: Student Learning
and Effective Teaching
The organization provides evidence of student
learning and teaching effectiveness that
demonstrates it is fulfilling its educational
mission.
Criterion Four: Acquisition,
Discovery, and Application of
Knowledge
The organization promotes a life of learning for
its faculty, administration, staff, and students
by fostering and supporting inquiry, creativity,
practice, and social responsibility in ways
consistent with its mission.
Criterion Five:
Engagement and Service
As called for by its mission, the organization
identifies its constituencies and serves them
in ways both value.
Let’s
think!
Your Involvement in the
Self-Study Process
• Consider which Accreditation
Criterion you would like to read
and provide feedback
• Participate in various Self-Study
activities, such as completing
College surveys
• Explain how your role at the
College accomplishes our
Mission
• Visit the HLC SharePoint site often for updates on the
process, submit questions, and provide feedback:
http://ep2.riosalado.edu/teams/HLC2012/default.aspx
• Review draft of the Self-Study chapter on your
Accreditation Criterion and provide constructive feedback
(a feedback form will be provided)—you will be an Official
Reviewer of the Chapter
• Prepare for HLC Team visit: March 5-7, 2012
Importance of College Surveys
Do we have to be perfect? No…however, we do need to show that we
considered our practices, explained what we
are doing and why, and that we have a plan
in place for Q.A. or R.I.
Surveys help the College gather and provide evidence of Quality
Assurance (Q.A.) and Relentless Improvement (R.I.).
Some Employee Survey Results
Q: Results of data collection are effectively used throughout
Rio to support continuous improvement.
Q.A. Target: 80%
Score: 66.3%
Questions to ask yourself:
• What are the College’s student enrollment numbers?
• How many adjunct faculty members do we have?
A: What the College does with the data collection is…
Q: I am encouraged to take advantage of professional
growth opportunities.
Q.A. Target: 85%
Score: 70.33%
If you are one of the 29.67% who does not take advantage
of the professional growth opportunities, why not?
A: What the College is doing to encourage employees
is…
Q: I believe that my role at Rio effectively contributes to
the success of our students, partners, and communities.
Q.A. Target: 85%
Score: 91.67%
A: How does your role effectively contribute…
Questions?