Moving Successfully Toward SACS Reaffirmation: An Introductory Discussion Presenters Dr. Cathy Fleuriet Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness Ms. Lisa Garza Director for University Planning and Assessment Dr. Beth Wuest Director for Academic Development and Assessment

Purpose of Presentation To provide a holistic overview of issues, activities and timelines leading to reaffirmation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) To provide a holistic overview of issues, activities and timelines leading to reaffirmation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) To illustrate how planning and assessment initiatives at Texas State are leading to SACS reaffirmation To illustrate how planning and assessment initiatives at Texas State are leading to SACS reaffirmation

Our Presentation will address: Changes in SACS reaffirmation requirements since our last reaffirmation in Changes in SACS reaffirmation requirements since our last reaffirmation in Overview of SACS requirements for reaffirmation Overview of SACS requirements for reaffirmation Review of major documents and committees required for reaffirmation Review of major documents and committees required for reaffirmation Explanation of Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Explanation of Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Relationship of Texas State’s planning and assessment activities to SACS requirements for reaffirmation Relationship of Texas State’s planning and assessment activities to SACS requirements for reaffirmation Clarification of department, college, division, and university responsibilities Clarification of department, college, division, and university responsibilities Summary of Institutional Effectiveness Calendar Summary of Institutional Effectiveness Calendar

SACS Requirement Changes Reaffirmation, not “reaccredidation” Reaffirmation, not “reaccredidation” Integrity and commitment to quality enhancement overriding principles Integrity and commitment to quality enhancement overriding principles Accreditation is self-regulated Accreditation is self-regulated Elimination of self study Elimination of self study Elimination of 462 “must statements” Elimination of 462 “must statements” Focus on student learning Focus on student learning Certification of Compliance and Quality Enhancement Plan Certification of Compliance and Quality Enhancement Plan Quality improvement through ongoing process review Quality improvement through ongoing process review

SACS Requirements Core Requirements Core Requirements Basic qualifications that an institution must meet to be accredited with the Commission on Colleges Basic qualifications that an institution must meet to be accredited with the Commission on Colleges Comprehensive Standards Comprehensive Standards Ensure that policies and procedures are in writing, approved through appropriate institutional processes, published, accessible, implemented, and enforced Ensure that policies and procedures are in writing, approved through appropriate institutional processes, published, accessible, implemented, and enforced Federal Requirements Federal Requirements Requirements mandated by federal government for all institutions Requirements mandated by federal government for all institutions

Meeting SACS Requirements Review of SACS requirements at all university levels Review of SACS requirements at all university levels Determination of individual department responsibilities Determination of individual department responsibilities Communication with Institutional Effectiveness and Leadership Team Communication with Institutional Effectiveness and Leadership Team Determining where each of us “fits in” Determining where each of us “fits in”

Major Documents Required Compliance Certification Compliance Certification Once signed by the President and Accreditation Liaison, forms a “bond of integrity” with the Commission Once signed by the President and Accreditation Liaison, forms a “bond of integrity” with the Commission Quality Enhancement Plan Quality Enhancement Plan Describes a course of action for institutional improvement crucial to enhancing educational quality that is directly related to student learning Describes a course of action for institutional improvement crucial to enhancing educational quality that is directly related to student learning

Major Committees Involved Leadership Team Leadership Team An internal team that manages and validates the institutional assessment of compliance with all Core Requirements and Comprehensive Standards An internal team that manages and validates the institutional assessment of compliance with all Core Requirements and Comprehensive Standards Off-site Review Committee Off-site Review Committee An external team that reviews the submitted Compliance Certifications to determine if the institution is in compliance with all requirements except QEP An external team that reviews the submitted Compliance Certifications to determine if the institution is in compliance with all requirements except QEP On-site Review Committee On-site Review Committee An external team that determines whether the institution is in compliance with the QEP and all requirements for which the report of the Off-site Review Committee indicated as “non- compliance” or “did not review” An external team that determines whether the institution is in compliance with the QEP and all requirements for which the report of the Off-site Review Committee indicated as “non- compliance” or “did not review”

Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Outlines a course of action for long term institutional improvement with special attention to student learning

QEP Basics What is submitted? What is submitted? Who’s involved? Who’s involved? What steps are included? What steps are included? Determine theme & justify Determine theme & justify Convene task force(s) Convene task force(s) Identify outcomes & assessment Identify outcomes & assessment Establish timeline Establish timeline Draft QEP document Draft QEP document

Texas State Processes How do Texas State’s ongoing processes relate to SACS reaffirmation?

Strategic Planning Student Learning Outcomes Educational Support Outcomes Academic Program Review Educational Core Assessment SACS SACS Reaffirmation Reaffirmation

Texas State Assessment Texas State Planning Calendar Texas State Planning Calendar Academic department and school student learning outcomes Academic department and school student learning outcomes Administrative division educational support outcomes Administrative division educational support outcomes Strategic planning Strategic planning SACS deadlines SACS deadlines

Department, School, College, Division, and University Responsibilities Internal process review Internal process review Strategic plan Strategic plan Student learning outcomes Student learning outcomes Educational support outcomes Educational support outcomes Ongoing assessment at all levels Ongoing assessment at all levels Participation in QEP process Participation in QEP process SACS requirements review SACS requirements review Documentation Documentation Education at a Distance Education at a Distance

Questions and Answers Contact Information Dr. Cathy Fleuriet Ms. Lisa Garza Dr. Beth Wuest