1. Building Partnerships:  How the Office of Assessment and Accreditation Can Help You and Your Program Be Successful

2. What are the top New Year’s Resolutions?
First is exercise and second is lose weight
This is a goal

3. Questions for Discussion
Why do physical exercise?
What process did you use to enter into an exercise program and what was your timeline?
How many times a week and for how long did you plan to exercise?
How did you know that you were making progress?
What impact did the exercise program have? Did you achieve what you had planned?
What will you do different next time? What went well and what did not go well during the process?
Why is your Objective or Outcome
What you will do is your Action
How much is your Target
How do you know about your progress is your Assessment Methodology
Did you achieve it and the process is the Analysis of Findings
What will you do different is Use of Findings (even if you achieved it)

4. Planning and Assessment and Student Learning Outcomes

5. How does the exercise relate to planning and assessment and student learning outcomes?
New Year’s Resolution Exercise
Planning and Reporting Process
Why do physical exercise?
What process did you use and what was your timeline?
How many times a week and for how long did you plan to exercise?
How did you know that you were making progress?
What was the impact and did you achieve the plan?
What will you do different next time?
What is your Objective or Outcome?
What you will do/what is your Action Plan?
What is your Target and Timeframe?
How do you know if you progressed/what is your Assessment Methodology?
Did you achieve it/what is your Analysis of Findings?
What will you do different/what is your Use of Findings (even if you achieved it)?
The goal was to demonstrate how the exercise aligns with the planning and reporting process for student learning outcomes and strategic planning and annual reporting

6. Primary Importance of Assessment
Assessment begins with issues and illuminates questions about which programs care.
Assessment outcomes are meaningful.
Assessment results are valued and genuinely used to improve.
Assessment is a cooperative effort.
What do you want to know about what students learned in the program.
What are you experiencing in the classroom that impacts students’ success in the program.

7. Faculty’s Role in Assessment
”…issues such as curricular design and effectiveness, assessment of students’ academic performance, student retention and graduation rates, quality of academic advising, and appropriateness of co- curricular activities are central to the self-study. Because of their training and direct contact with students, faculty members are in the best position to provide analyses of these issues. And they possess the research and analytical skills not only to identify deficiencies in processes and outcomes but also to develop methods for improvement.”
American Association of University Professors: Institutional Accreditation A Call for Greater Faculty Involvement (2008)

8. Office of Assessment and Accreditation’s Role
Ask questions to understand (not evaluative)
Exchange ideas (create a dialogue)
Provide consultations and feedback
Provide professional development opportunities
Be a partner in outcomes research

10. Which of the following is NOT an advantage or benefit of accreditation?
Protects the public from fraud and unscrupulous practices
Ensures that schools demonstrate sound educational practices
Supports students’ abilities to earn and transfer academic credits
Allows schools to demonstrate good standing with federal agencies, especially financial aid
Verifies that an institution is perfect

11. Why participate in accreditation?
Provides quality assurance to the public.
Protects the public from fraudulent practices.
Allows students to transfer credits.
Allows higher education institutions to be in good standing with the Federal Department of Education – (and thus dispense federal financial aid).
Christine
Institution meets a quality standard level
Degrees are legitimately obtained and not just in exchange for money
Credits are portable to other institutions
Inability to offer federal financial aid could impact enrollment as only 1/3 of our students who are enrolled do not receive

12. Accreditation Overview
The Review Process :
Standards: The accrediting establishes standards.
Self-study report and evaluation: The institution or program prepares an in-depth self-evaluation study that measures its performance against the standards. It is reviewed by a team of peers.
On-site evaluation: A group of peers is selected by the accrediting agency visits the institution or program to determine compliance.
Accreditation approval: The accrediting agency grants accreditation compliance status.
Accreditation monitoring: The accrediting agency monitors institutions or programs or programs found to be in non-compliance with the standards.
Re-evaluation: The accrediting agency periodically re-evaluates each institution or program to ascertain whether continuation of its compliance status is warranted.

13. Major Compliance Categories
Governance & Administration
Institutional Effectiveness
Educational Programs & Curriculum
Faculty
Library & Learning Resources
Student Affairs
Financial & Physical Resources

14. Educational Resources
Office of Assessment and Accreditation website
Personnel
Detailed information about processes, templates, and tools
Published books, articles, etc.
Assessment Academy (prior workshop information and upcoming workshops)
right click to open link

15. Assessment & Accreditation Pillars The foundation of the Office of Assessment Accreditation is built on four pillars: student learning outcomes, accreditation, planning, and faculty and staff engagement
Planning
Division Strategic and Annual Planning and Effectiveness
Academic and Academic Support Strategic and Annual Planning and Effectiveness
Accreditation
Regional (SACSCOC) standards integrated in institutional practices
Relational Accountability and Assessment Management Software
Student Learning Outcomes
Faculty-driven, systematic, and collaborative assessment in all modes of delivery
Integration and alignment throughout all curricula
Faculty & Staff Engagement
Professional Development Opportunities
Planning and Assessment Support

16. Questions?