1 SCU’s WASC Reaccreditation Diane Jonte-Pace, Self Study Steering Committee Chair Don Dodson, Academic Liaison Officer Winter 2007

2 What is WASC? Western Association of Schools and Colleges One of 7 regional accrediting commissions recognized by federal government Responsible for 157 institutions of higher education in California and Hawaii

3 What is WASC? Regional accreditation required for Title IV eligibility Federal grants Transferability of credit Recognition of degrees

4 New WASC Process Four standards including 42 Criteria for Review, compared with about 150 standards previously Collegial process: Aimed at promoting improvement rather than at looking for failure Focus on evidence of actual student learning

5 WASC’s Concerns What is our capacity to educate students well? How effective are we in doing this? How can we improve student learning and institutional learning?

6 Step 1: Institutional Proposal Due May 15, 2007 Presents preliminary self-review under standards Proposes plan of work for self-study

7 Step 2: Capacity and Preparatory Review Fall 2009 Site visit Focus: Resources, structures, processes Infrastructure to support educational effectiveness Status of preparations for Educational Effectiveness Review

8 Step 3: Educational Effectiveness Review Spring 2011 Site visit Focus: Learning environment Student learning outcomes Effectiveness of quality assurance processes How we use evidence for improvement

9 What does WASC want from us? Identify our most important issues Examine each as an “action research project” Gather and interpret evidence Make improvements Increase effectiveness

10 Fall 2006 Survey Purpose How Santa Clara is doing on the WASC criteria for review Possible themes for WASC review Response Rate Full-time faculty: 45% Staff: 33% Students: 14% Board members: 29%

11 Fall 2006 Survey (cont.) Findings Majority of all four groups think Santa Clara meets all the WASC criteria Board members most positive, followed by students, then staff, then faculty However: >25% of at least one group rated performance negatively on 15 criteria

12 Areas of Some Concern Diversity Leadership; structures; processes Staffing levels or qualifications Information Resources Alignment of Priorities Student Advising Stakeholder Involvement

13 Themes Proposed in Survey Respondents rated importance of six possible themes. A majority of all four groups rated all six as very important or important.

14 Themes Proposed in Survey Competence, Conscience, and Compassion Teaching Scholar Model Processes to Improve Academic Quality and Student Learning Implementation of Core Curriculum Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Role of Graduate Programs

15 Principles for Selecting Themes Important to University Relevant to Strategic Plan Relevant to student learning Relevant to WASC Criteria for Review Suitable for action research Something SCU needs to do anyway

16 Proposed Themes for WASC Self Study Educating for Competence, Conscience and Compassion Strengthening the Santa Clara Teaching Scholar Model Promoting a Community of Inclusive Excellence

17 Questions, Evidence, Decisions: ECCC What do we mean by “educating for competence, conscience, and compassion”? ECCC learning outcomes for undergrads? For graduate students? Evidence? Becoming more effective?

18 Questions, Evidence, Decisions: SCTSM What is the Santa Clara Teaching Scholar Model (SCTSM)? How is it different from other models of faculty roles? Faculty concerns about TSM? Connection to SCU’s commitment to a community of inclusive excellence?

19 Questions, Evidence, Decisions: SCTSM Connection to goal of educating for competence, conscience, and compassion? Can TSM be more effective in serving faculty and students in the context of Santa Clara’s distinctiveness as a Jesuit university?

20 Questions, Evidence, Decisions: COIE What do we mean by a “community of inclusive excellence”? Diversity and inclusive excellence Among faculty? In the administration? Among staff? In the student body?

21 Questions, Evidence, Decisions: COIE (cont.) Diversity and inclusive excellence in Policies? Practices? Campus climate?

22 Questions, Evidence, Decisions: COIE (cont.) Diversity and inclusiveness in curriculum? Improving as community of inclusive excellence, based on evidence collected?

23 WASC Reaccreditation Burden or Opportunity? Report Writers or Change Agents? Compliance or Engagement?

24 Previous WASC recommendations Library/CIO Counseling Psych/Ed Diversity Program Review Centralize Faculty Development

25 Communication with University Community Self-Study Committee of faculty & staff Website with SCU’s WASC data Coming soon Draft documents shared Comments and feedback welcome