1. LMU’s WASC Special Visit:
Preparations and Progress
Margaret Kasimatis, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness

2. Overview The new WASC review process LMU’s WASC Special Visit
Preparations and progress
Questions

3. New WASC Review Process
Context based
Focus on alignment
Focus on self-reflection and continuous improvement
Examination of ongoing structures and processes
Focus on outcomes
Holistic, systems approach

4. What is a Special Visit? Typical timeline for review process
10-year cycle
LMU’s last review concluded in Fall 2003
Institutional proposal for next comprehensive review is due in 2010
A Special Visit occurs when there are issues that the Commission would like to see progress on before the next comprehensive review

5. LMU’s Special Visit Will occur in Feb or March 2008
Will focus on four issues
Creating a culture of evidence related to student learning
Linking long-range financial planning to student learning
Whole-person education, and education in service of faith
Creating a learning organization

6. Culture of Evidence Understanding of assessment and how it’s useful
Motivation (external versus internal)
Analysis and use of data

7. Linking financial planning to learning
Long range financial plan, with capacity for continuously monitoring progress
Alignment between academic planning and financial planning
Focus on enhancement of student learning
Analysis of evidence of educational effectiveness

8. “Whole-Person Education” and “Service of Faith”
Clear articulation of meaning
Delineation of responsibilities
Assessment of effectiveness

9. Creating a learning organization
“LMU needs to continue its efforts to create robust systems and structures by which key measures of effectiveness can be identified, tracked over time, and evaluated by appropriate bodies. The resulting analyses may be used to plan for improvements.” (from Commission Action Letter)

10. Preparations for Special Visit
Steering Committee
Has been meeting since early September
Assisted by subcommittees and working groups
For each issue:
Collect and analyze evidence of progress since last review
Identify areas that still need attention
Develop plans for addressing those areas that need attention

11. Subcommittees Linking Financial Planning to Learning Subcommittee
Chaired by Lori Husein
Whole-Person Education & Service of Faith Subcommittee
Chaired by Fr. Robert Caro
Assessment Subcommittee
Chaired by Margaret Kasimatis
Communications Subcommittee
Co-chaired by Marshall Sauceda and Janet Quattrocchi

12. Progress on Issues
Creating a culture of evidence about student learning
Comprehensive review of Core
Revision of Core based on learning outcomes
New, assessment-based program review guidelines
Efforts in schools and colleges

13. Progress on Issues “Whole-person education” and “service of faith”
Position of VP for Mission and Ministry
Greater focus on mission-related issues
Catholic Studies minor
Collaborations between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs
Surveys and focus groups

14. Progress on Issues Linking financial planning to learning
We have the commitment to student learning
Building this commitment into planning should be formalized
Have begun to link budget decisions to strategic plan
Move to modified zero based budgeting this year is a good next step
Evaluation rubric for budget requests

15. Progress on Issues Creating a learning organization
Have set the goal of creating a culture of evidence
Education is taking place
Starting to put the right structures in place
Positions, committees
This takes time!