1. Campus Response to the Visiting Team Report
WASC Accreditation
Campus Response to the Visiting Team Report
January 2009

2. What is WASC All About?
Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Accreditation Body
Promotes the development of sustainable effective educational programs
Assures that the institution has met high standards of quality and effectiveness
Accreditation is required to qualify for financial aid for students

3. Outline of Process Proposal submitted C&PR Report submitted C&PR Visit
Response to Visit
EER Report to be submitted
EER Visit to be held
June 2006
July 2008
October 2008
January 2009
July 2010
October 2010

4. C&PR Report Theme 1: Institutional Excellence
Programs of Distinction
Sense of Community
Effective Marketing and Outreach

5. C&PR Report Theme 2: Teacher-Scholar Model
Clear accepted definition that embraces the differences in disciplines
Review and reward structure that reflects the model
Institutional support (and the challenges therein) for a sustainable model

6. C&PR Report Theme 3: Student Success
Retention and graduation
Attainment of learning outcomes at program and university level
Positive impact on personal development
Expanded educational, career, and other future opportunities

7. Team Findings: Commendations
Creation of Shared Vision
Well-integrated Learning by Doing approach
Student support outside the classroom
Assessment mechanisms in Student Affairs

8. Team Findings: Institutional Excellence
Serious disadvantage created by absence of
University Strategic Plan
Develop academic plan and strategic plan as soon as possible
Resolve tension between centralized and decentralized decision-making
Articulate meaning of Programs of Distinction
Reach consensus on roles in shared governance

9. Team Findings: Teacher-Scholar Model
Confusion and concern about model
Resources are an obstacle to sustainability
Variations in expectations in RTP a concern
Process for assessment of progress not identified
Part-time Faculty not aware of opportunities

10. Team Findings: Student Success
Assessment progress is uneven across campus
Some programs likely to have completed assessment process by 2010
GE Assessment process is more complex than necessary
Expectations from last visit not met

11. Team Recommendations:
Establish a Strategic Planning Process, to be presented in report in June 2009
Senate and Administration establish clear understandings of roles in strategic planning process
Adopt a core set of understandings of the Teacher-Scholar Model
Establish a GE Assessment Plan, to be presented in report in June 2009

12. Our Responses - Planning
We assert that:
Priorities in line with the campus vision influence the work of University Committees
Decision making is being informed by planning processes
P&R experience will contribute meaningfully to strategic planning process
Academic Plan will be central to University Strategic Plan

13. Our Responses - Shared Governance
We further assert that:
Increased cooperation on University committees is strong evidence of progress
P&R Process demonstrated increased understanding of the roles of faculty and administration in planning

14. Our Responses - Teacher-Scholar
We agree that we must:
Formulate a definition of teacher-scholar
Re-consider review and reward practices
Prioritize and publicize resources
Link T-S with Learning by Doing

15. Our Responses - Assessment
We agree that we must
Increase reflection of department efforts and share best practices
Begin revised, simplified GE Assessment

16. Next Steps
AA Planning Committee began work in fall; will submit plan to Senate in spring for approval
T-S Task Force to begin work in Winter, using White Paper presented at Fall Scholarship Symposium
AA Assessment Implementation Task Force to begin work in Winter

17. Next Steps
Revised GE Assessment Process to begin in winter (hopefully)
Re-examine RTP Criteria
Re-examine Program Review Guidelines

18. Next Steps Submit to WASC in June 2009: Academic Plan GE Assessment
With process for its implementation and the progression to a University Strategic Plan
GE Assessment
Revised Plan
New Learning Outcomes and other evidence of progress