Understanding MSCHE Expectations for Follow-Up Reports Linda Suskie Website: MSCHE Annual Conference Washington DC

MSCHE Guidelines Click on Policies on left side. Click on Policies on left side. Scroll down to Follow-Up Reports & Visits Scroll down to Follow-Up Reports & Visits

What is Follow-Up? Progress report Progress report Monitoring report Monitoring report Supplemental report Supplemental report Commission liaison guidance visit Commission liaison guidance visit Small team visit Small team visit

Why Did You Get a Follow-Up? Concern about compliance with Concern about compliance with –Standard(s) –Requirement(s) of Affiliation

Progress Reports Meet the Commissions standards Meet the Commissions standards But MSCHE needs assurance that activities planned or being implemented are carried out. But MSCHE needs assurance that activities planned or being implemented are carried out.

Monitoring Reports #1 Meet the Commissions standards Meet the Commissions standards But MSCHE has concerns about ongoing compliance with one or more standards But MSCHE has concerns about ongoing compliance with one or more standards

Monitoring Reports #2 Warning or probation Warning or probation –Lack of evidence that the institution is in compliance with Standard(s)

USEDs Two-Year Rule If MSCHE finds your institution out of compliance… If MSCHE finds your institution out of compliance… –Warning –Probation Accreditation must be reaffirmed within two years. Accreditation must be reaffirmed within two years.

Preparing an Effective Follow-Up Report

Read the Directions! Read carefully & understand the Commissions action. Read carefully & understand the Commissions action.

Understand MSCHEs Underlying Concerns & Expectations Why did the Commission ask for this report? Why did the Commission ask for this report? What are the Commissions underlying concerns? What are the Commissions underlying concerns? How does the request relate to the Standard under review? How does the request relate to the Standard under review?

Resources for Understanding Commission Concerns Characteristics of Excellence Characteristics of Excellence Report from MSCHE peer evaluators Report from MSCHE peer evaluators Your MSCHE VP liaison Your MSCHE VP liaison

Answer Every Question Organize report by Organize report by –Each requested item? –Each Standard and each Fundamental Element? Clearly document compliance with Clearly document compliance with – Standard(s) –Fundamental Element(s)

Provide Documented Evidence Not just assertions, platitudes or a couple of examples Not just assertions, platitudes or a couple of examples Support every statement with links or citations of documentation Support every statement with links or citations of documentation –Links/citations are evidence that the statement is accurate. –Answers without links/citations arent answers.

Focus on Past and Present, Not Future Current compliance Current compliance Sustained compliance Sustained compliance –Concrete details on work to be done

Focus on Outcomes More than structures & processes More than structures & processes –What is the governance structure? vs –Is the governance structure fulfilling its responsibilities?

Be Forthright & Honest Honesty is the best policy! Honesty is the best policy! Standard 6: Integrity Standard 6: Integrity If theres a problem… If theres a problem… –Explain why. –Provide clear, specific plans.

Be Concise & Well-Organized Respect readers time and energy. Respect readers time and energy. Avoid data dumps. Avoid data dumps. Cull out irrelevant documentation. Cull out irrelevant documentation. Make the report easy to follow. Make the report easy to follow. –Well-organized appendices of documentation Self-studies are 100 pages. Self-studies are 100 pages.

Format? Title page template Title page template Introduction Introduction Progress to date and current status Progress to date and current status –Summary –Analysis What does documentation say to you? What does documentation say to you? –Next steps to sustain compliance? Appendices of supporting documentation Appendices of supporting documentation

Your MSCHE VP Liaison is Your Friend! or telephone with questions. or telephone with questions. Meet in Commission offices? Meet in Commission offices? Meet during MSCHE Annual Conference? Meet during MSCHE Annual Conference? Commission Liaison Guidance Visit Commission Liaison Guidance Visit Campus visit? (Fee charged) Campus visit? (Fee charged) Cannot review drafts Cannot review drafts