ACCREDITATION Community Day February 1, 2011

Significance of Accreditation Accreditation – Accreditation – Allows the students at KC to apply for Federal and/or State Financial aid Allows the students at KC to apply for Federal and/or State Financial aid Employers often require that its employees graduate from accredited institutions Employers often require that its employees graduate from accredited institutions States often require graduates who apply for licenses to graduate from accredited institutions States often require graduates who apply for licenses to graduate from accredited institutions A means of lessening the impact of cost and the burden of external controls on colleges A means of lessening the impact of cost and the burden of external controls on colleges 2

What is Accreditation? Accreditation is a process that allows a college to demonstrate that what it says it is doing--it is actually doing Accreditation is a process that allows a college to demonstrate that what it says it is doing--it is actually doing It gives the college the opportunity to examine its own beliefs and how it lives them out It gives the college the opportunity to examine its own beliefs and how it lives them out It gives the college the opportunity to examine itself to see where it is doing well, where it exceeds its beliefs, and where it can improve It gives the college the opportunity to examine itself to see where it is doing well, where it exceeds its beliefs, and where it can improve 3

The Accreditation Process The process involves the whole institution –faculty, administration, staff, students, and trustees The process involves the whole institution –faculty, administration, staff, students, and trustees It involves writing a self-study which explores the college and presents the colleges story as compared to a set of criteria It involves writing a self-study which explores the college and presents the colleges story as compared to a set of criteria It involves a visit from a an evaluation team to see if what was written is indeed what is found It involves a visit from a an evaluation team to see if what was written is indeed what is found It takes time and commitment It takes time and commitment 4

Keukas ACCREDITATION Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is our accrediting body-- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is our accrediting body-- The last accreditation was 8 years ago and the college was accredited for 10 years ( ). The last accreditation was 8 years ago and the college was accredited for 10 years ( ). The college has to provide further evidence and reports during this time The college has to provide further evidence and reports during this time Accreditation allows us to participate in many programs that support the college community Accreditation allows us to participate in many programs that support the college community 5

REACCREDITATION The ten years are almost up and now the college has to go through the reaccreditation process The ten years are almost up and now the college has to go through the reaccreditation process It involves the same groups It involves the same groups Administration, trustees, faculty, staff and students Administration, trustees, faculty, staff and students It requires an in-depth self study It requires an in-depth self study It will require a visit from a team It will require a visit from a team It validates what we have been doing and allows us to look to the future and prepare for what we can do It validates what we have been doing and allows us to look to the future and prepare for what we can do It provides insights into areas that we need to improve and gives the opportunity to be publically proud of what we do well It provides insights into areas that we need to improve and gives the opportunity to be publically proud of what we do well 6

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Self-Regulation and Peer Review Self-Regulation and Peer Review Strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of higher education Strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of higher education 7

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Increase accountability to both internal and external constituents Review, evaluate, and strengthen the processes employed for annual and long-term planning and budgeting to ensure Keukas future Review, evaluate, and strengthen the processes employed for annual and long-term planning and budgeting to ensure Keukas future Review our educational programs and services so as to enhance teaching, student learning and achievement Review our educational programs and services so as to enhance teaching, student learning and achievement 8

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Institutional improvement through self-analysis Institutional improvement through self-analysis Key activities of the self-study process: Analysis Analysis Evaluation Evaluation Identifying strategies for continued improvement Identifying strategies for continued improvement 9

WHAT IS THE PROCESS? 1. The college establishes chair persons for the process Ann Tuttle and Tim Sellers were identified for KC Ann Tuttle and Tim Sellers were identified for KC 2. The Chairs identify a Steering Committee 3. The Steering Committee and Administration address key issues 4.Steering Committee works on study design 10

WHAT IS THE PROCESS? Charge for the Steering Committee Charge for the Steering Committee Create research questions to be answered Create research questions to be answered Identify task forces or working groups to answer the questions Identify task forces or working groups to answer the questions Develop chapter drafts with working groups Develop chapter drafts with working groups Communicate the goals of the self-study and encourage broad participation in the self-study process Communicate the goals of the self-study and encourage broad participation in the self-study process Arrange for institution –wide review of and responses to a draft of the self-study Arrange for institution –wide review of and responses to a draft of the self-study Oversee the completion of the final self-study report and documents relevant to the self-study process and team visit Oversee the completion of the final self-study report and documents relevant to the self-study process and team visit 11

WHAT IS THE PROCESS? Charge for the Taskforces/Working Groups: Address the research questions Address the research questions Gather and analyze evidence, using existing documents or developing new documents Gather and analyze evidence, using existing documents or developing new documents Produce outlines of drafts in collaboration with Steering Committee Produce outlines of drafts in collaboration with Steering Committee Produce final drafts of reports Produce final drafts of reports 12

WHAT IS THE PROCESS? The entire institution will be needed to complete the self study The entire institution will be needed to complete the self study Data will be sought from all members of the community Data will be sought from all members of the community Many people not currently on a task force will be asked to participate at some point Many people not currently on a task force will be asked to participate at some point The Steering Committee will also prepare for a site visit The Steering Committee will also prepare for a site visit A site visit occurs when several visitors come to the campus – in this case the Main Campus, various sites for ASAP, and sites in China and Vietnam A site visit occurs when several visitors come to the campus – in this case the Main Campus, various sites for ASAP, and sites in China and Vietnam 13

WHAT IS THE PROCESS? The site visit (Spring 2013) The visitors will meet with various members of the college community The visitors will meet with various members of the college community They will informally chat with various community members They will informally chat with various community members They will review materials gathered by the Steering Committee and the various task forces They will review materials gathered by the Steering Committee and the various task forces The visitors are comparing what was said in the self study with what they find at the college. The visitors are comparing what was said in the self study with what they find at the college. 14

AFTER THE VISIT After the site visitors leave, they will write a report and submit it to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for a final determination. After the site visitors leave, they will write a report and submit it to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for a final determination. Assessment remains embedded and evident in the institutional processes Assessment remains embedded and evident in the institutional processes 15

Outcomes of Self-Study Celebration of institutional strengths Celebration of institutional strengths Development of action plans to address recommendations for improvement Development of action plans to address recommendations for improvement An institution unified through involvement An institution unified through involvement Commitment to a shared understanding and vision of a Keuka education Commitment to a shared understanding and vision of a Keuka education 16

Keuka College 17