HLC

Pittsburg StateUniversity

Why do we need accreditation? • Assures academic program quality through accountability to external standards • Provides public certification of acceptable institutional quality • Provides opportunity and incentive for critical self-analysis and improvement of the institution • Provides formal opportunity for external consultation • Maintains eligibility to receive federal funds for student financial aid • Often valued or required by graduate schools/employers • Without accreditation, we cannot be a credible institution of higher learning

Learn more about the HLC at www.pittstate.edu/hlc or www.ncahlc.org

HLC Timeline A full listing can be found at www.pittstate.edu/hlc

August 2009 ............PSU invited to become a Pioneer Institution in the Open Pathways model

November 2009 ......PSU begins participation in HLC Assessment Academy

Fall 2009 .................Writing Task Force formed;Assessment of student learning in co-curricular areas begins with Career Services, First Year Programs, and University Counseling Services

May 2010 ................HLC Accreditation Leadership Team formed

Fall 2010 .................Math Task Force formed

January 2011 .......... Internal Assessment Academy launched: first cohort includes Axe Library, Career Services, Intensive English Program, Intercollegiate Athletics, Office of Admission, Student Activities, and Writing Center

Spring 2011 ............ Samples created for Assurance Argument;Writing Task force submits final report to Provost

Summer 2011..........Math Task Force submits final report to Provost

December 2011 ....... Initial draft of Assurance Argument with new criteria created

Summer/Fall 2012 ..Assurance Argument reviewed by campus

Fall 2012 .................Final Impact Report and Results Forum for HLC Assessment Academy

January 2013 ..........Assurance Argument finalized and submitted to HLC

Spring 2013 ............HLC Site Visit

Anticipated Summer 2013..........HLC final report regarding status of reaffirmation

of accreditation

PSU’s Pathway PSU’s Pathway, or Quality Initiative, focuses on improvement of student learning through our participation in the Higher Learning Commission’s Assessment Academy. Our goals for the Academy are to:

1. Assess the core of our General Education, namely writing, math, and communication.

2. Begin assessment of student learning that takes place outside of the classroom (termed the co-curricular area). We have adapted the HLC Assessment Academy model for internal use to assist units in developing assessment plans.

We are implementing the process one step at a time. The curriculum project kicked off with the writing and math components over the past two years and the communication component began this fall.

The co-curricular project began with the Office of Career Services and First Year Programs, with the addition of Library Services, Intercollegiate Athletics, Writing Center, Intensive English, and the Office of Admission this year.

HLC Brown Bag SeriesOct. 19, 12 p.m. MATH FOR GENERAL EDUCATION Overman Student Center, Sunflower Room Dr. Bill Ivy Dr. Bobby Winters

Nov. 16, 11 a.m. ASSESSMENT IN THE CO-CURRICULAR AREAS AND THE ROLE OF THE PSU ASSESSMENT ACADEMY Overman Student Center, Inaugural Room Dr. Bob Wilkinson Ms. Mindy Cloninger Dr. Lynn Murray

Contact UsWe welcome your input and involvement as we prepare for our re-accreditation. To contact us with comments or questions, e-mail hlcaccreditation@pittstate.edu, or call Dr. Jan Smith, Special Assistant to the Provost for HLC Accreditation at235-4537.

FALL 2011

PSU on the cutting edge of accreditation;

Pittsburg State University is currently preparing for re-accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC). The Higher Learning Commission is our regional accrediting body and accredits more than 1,000 colleges and universities in nineteen states. PSU has successfully maintained continuous regional accreditation since 1915. Our next reaffirmation of accreditation will occur in Spring 2013.

HLC is in the process of changing the way it accredits institutions and PSU is on the cutting edge of this new approach. One of 14 Pioneer Institutions, Pittsburg State was selected to further develop and pilot the new accreditation process, known as the Open Pathways Model. Under this new model, institutions will no longer complete a traditional self-study, which is very labor and resource intensive in looking over the past several years to document how the institution meets criteria. Instead, the Pathways Model is forward-looking and the focus is on direct improvements through implementation of a Quality Initiative Project or Pathway.

A note from Dr. OlsonAs the weeks and months click by, we move closer and closer to Spring 2013 when our Higher Learning Commission visitors will be on campus. Much work is going on behind the scenes to prepare for this opportunity to demonstrate the value Pittsburg State University places on student learning. While we continually work to improve all areas of student learning, our particular focus has been on the core of general education as well as learning in co-curricular areas. Sound exciting? It is! This is our opportunity as a campus community to clearly identify and articulate what it is we want our students to be able to do when they graduate and demonstrate the outcome of our work both in and outside the classroom. It is important that our entire university be involved and invested in our accreditation efforts. Over the next few months through this newsletter, a webpage, and brown bag seminars, you will have the opportunity to learn more about our HLC Accreditation efforts. In addition, the HLC Accreditation Leadership Team is busy gathering the necessary documentation for various criteria and over the next few months will be making requests for a variety of documents. Please assist us in providing the assurance that is needed to sail through this process with a successful outcome. That outcome, of course, is continuation of our fine HLC accreditation standing.

Current Focus-

WritingOne of the major components of our HLC Pathway is a focus on improvement of student writing skills and assessment of writing. In 2009 a task force was formed to examine the existing structure of writing instruction at PSU and propose changes to improve the quality education linked to effective, formative assessment. A formal report was submitted to the Provost in Spring 2011 and can be found at www.pittstate.edu/hlc.

A number of recommendations have already been funded and are currently being implemented. The most notable being the hiring of a new full-time English instructor who will work in the Writing Center and teach core writing courses. Additional implementations of Task Force recommendations include:

Assessment 1. Work is underway to assess student writing in the Core Writing program. The assessment tool is being piloted during fall semester 2011. The assessment program will be tested during the spring semester 2012.2. The Task Force’s Writing Assessment Rubric has been adopted for assessment purposes.3. The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC )program has begun offering workshops to faculty on using the Writing Assessment Rubric.

Core Writing

1. The Provost has approved the hiring of a full-time English instructor to teach Core Writing courses and tutor in the Writing Center, and that instructor was hired in fall semester 2011.2. While we are not yet able to staff all Core Writing courses without first-semester graduate teaching assistants, we did provide a 6-hour workshop to all new graduate teaching assistants on using the Writing Assessment Rubric. Training took place before the fall semester began.

Writing to LearnThis academic year, the WAC committee will continue the development and identification of “Best Practices” for Writing to Learn courses and will develop a procedure to verify when faculty are employing “Best Practices.”

Writing Center1. The Writing Center directors provided 16 hours of tutor training before the Writing Center opened this semester and will continue to provide additional training periodically during the semester.2. The newly hired full-time English instructor began tutoring in the Writing Center fall semester 2011.3. The Writing Center purchased a scheduling service that has allowed them to offer on-line tutoring during fall semester 2011.

Assurance ArgumentIn addition to the quality initiative, institutions have to demonstrate that they meet the five HLC criteria for accreditation. This is accomplished through an electronic portfolio. PSU was one of four institutions selected to work with the Commission earlier this year to develop a sample of an Assurance Argument to assist in developing format and guidelines for the Assurance Argument. In addition, PSU is one of six universities recently selected to begin beta testing the new technology platform for the electronic portfolio.

HLC Accreditation Leadership Team (left to right, standing:) Bill Ivy, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success; Administrative Support-Kathy Benard, Office of Analysis, Planning, and Assessment; Lynn Murray, Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing and Management; Don Judd, Associate Professor, Department of English; Mindy Cloninger, Director, Career Services; Bruce Dallman, Dean, College of Technology.

(left to right, seated:) Bob Wilkinson, Director, Analysis, Planning, and Assessment; Jan Smith, Special Assistant to the Provost for HLC Accreditation; Lynette Olson, Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs; Michele Sexton, Director, Budget and Human Resource Services; Bobby Winters, Assistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences/University Professor, Department of Math.

14

HLC

Pittsburg StateUniversity

Why do we need accreditation? • Assures academic program quality through accountability to external standards • Provides public certification of acceptable institutional quality • Provides opportunity and incentive for critical self-analysis and improvement of the institution • Provides formal opportunity for external consultation • Maintains eligibility to receive federal funds for student financial aid • Often valued or required by graduate schools/employers • Without accreditation, we cannot be a credible institution of higher learning

Learn more about the HLC at www.pittstate.edu/hlc or www.ncahlc.org

HLC Timeline A full listing can be found at www.pittstate.edu/hlc

August 2009 ............PSU invited to become a Pioneer Institution in the Open Pathways model

November 2009 ......PSU begins participation in HLC Assessment Academy

Fall 2009 .................Writing Task Force formed;Assessment of student learning in co-curricular areas begins with Career Services, First Year Programs, and University Counseling Services

May 2010 ................HLC Accreditation Leadership Team formed

Fall 2010 .................Math Task Force formed

January 2011 .......... Internal Assessment Academy launched: first cohort includes Axe Library, Career Services, Intensive English Program, Intercollegiate Athletics, Office of Admission, Student Activities, and Writing Center

Spring 2011 ............ Samples created for Assurance Argument;Writing Task force submits final report to Provost

Summer 2011..........Math Task Force submits final report to Provost

December 2011 ....... Initial draft of Assurance Argument with new criteria created

Summer/Fall 2012 ..Assurance Argument reviewed by campus

Fall 2012 .................Final Impact Report and Results Forum for HLC Assessment Academy

January 2013 ..........Assurance Argument finalized and submitted to HLC

Spring 2013 ............HLC Site Visit

Anticipated Summer 2013..........HLC final report regarding status of reaffirmation

of accreditation

PSU’s Pathway PSU’s Pathway, or Quality Initiative, focuses on improvement of student learning through our participation in the Higher Learning Commission’s Assessment Academy. Our goals for the Academy are to:

1. Assess the core of our General Education, namely writing, math, and communication.

2. Begin assessment of student learning that takes place outside of the classroom (termed the co-curricular area). We have adapted the HLC Assessment Academy model for internal use to assist units in developing assessment plans.

We are implementing the process one step at a time. The curriculum project kicked off with the writing and math components over the past two years and the communication component began this fall.

The co-curricular project began with the Office of Career Services and First Year Programs, with the addition of Library Services, Intercollegiate Athletics, Writing Center, Intensive English, and the Office of Admission this year.

HLC Brown Bag SeriesOct. 19, 12 p.m. MATH FOR GENERAL EDUCATION Overman Student Center, Sunflower Room Dr. Bill Ivy Dr. Bobby Winters

Nov. 16, 11 a.m. ASSESSMENT IN THE CO-CURRICULAR AREAS AND THE ROLE OF THE PSU ASSESSMENT ACADEMY Overman Student Center, Inaugural Room Dr. Bob Wilkinson Ms. Mindy Cloninger Dr. Lynn Murray

Contact UsWe welcome your input and involvement as we prepare for our re-accreditation. To contact us with comments or questions, e-mail hlcaccreditation@pittstate.edu, or call Dr. Jan Smith, Special Assistant to the Provost for HLC Accreditation at235-4537.

FALL 2011

PSU on the cutting edge of accreditation;

Pittsburg State University is currently preparing for re-accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC). The Higher Learning Commission is our regional accrediting body and accredits more than 1,000 colleges and universities in nineteen states. PSU has successfully maintained continuous regional accreditation since 1915. Our next reaffirmation of accreditation will occur in Spring 2013.

HLC is in the process of changing the way it accredits institutions and PSU is on the cutting edge of this new approach. One of 14 Pioneer Institutions, Pittsburg State was selected to further develop and pilot the new accreditation process, known as the Open Pathways Model. Under this new model, institutions will no longer complete a traditional self-study, which is very labor and resource intensive in looking over the past several years to document how the institution meets criteria. Instead, the Pathways Model is forward-looking and the focus is on direct improvements through implementation of a Quality Initiative Project or Pathway.