1. Tips and Strategies for Chairing a Successful Team Visit
Debra G. Klinman, Ph.D.
Ellie A. Fogarty, Ed.D.
Vice Presidents, MSCHE

2. Overall Approach Keys to a successful Team visit:
Analyze the Self-Study within the context of the host institution’s mission
Keep in mind that the goal of the Self-Study process is to encourage continuous improvement
Be collegial, organized, and prepared
Option of bringing your own staff along at your expense

3. Before the Visit
Use the preliminary visit to ensure institutional readiness
Communicate with your Team members
Approve the preliminary schedule for campus meetings
Emphasize preparation and mutual respect
Set dates with the institution’s president – consider spring break, holidays, board meetings, professional association meetings
Host institution should have one contact person for you to deal with
Approve logistical issues during preliminary visit
Review team roster for conflict of interest
Send welcome note to team members, hold conference call with team members
Assign team members by expertise
Explain the role of the system or State representative on team, if any

4. During the Visit Remain flexible and remain in charge
Don’t over schedule – you will need to troubleshoot
Reach Team consensus about overall institutional compliance with Standards
Deliver the oral exit report – don’t mention the Team’s proposal for Commission action
Balance - Encourage yet contain conversation and inquiry

5. After the Visit Meet deadlines sent to you by Commission staff
Submit evaluations of Team members
Prepare Confidential Brief and submit it only to MSCHE
Participate fully as a member of the Committee on Evaluation Reports in Philadelphia
Understand that the Team’s proposal for Commission action may change through the deliberations of Committee or the full Commission
Draft Team Report is sent to institution to correct for errors of fact
Final version of Team Report is sent to institution for an Institutional Response
Final version of Team Report is sent to MSCHE by the institution
Reports can be sent electronically to
What issues, if any, should the institution address prior to the 5th-year PRR?
Focus on Standards – what are the priorities, what seems to be most pressing, urgent for the institution? Consider the overlap of Standards – attending to one area may bring along another area
Committee and full Commission members were not on the ground with the Team – be sure to refer to supporting evidence in Team Report and speak confidently about evidence found or not found during the visit when you present to the Committee on Evaluation Reports

6. Throughout the Process
Be prepared to handle unusual situations
Remember that you can always contact the host institution’s MSCHE liaison with any questions or concerns
Team dynamics
Emergencies
Absent team members
Unsolicited comments and materials

7. Questions?
Thank you for your service to peer evaluation in the Middle States region