OM! It’s HLC!

You will be able to…

• Explain the purpose of Accreditation.

• Explain the purpose of the Self-Study.

• Identify the Criteria for Accreditation.

• Consider a Criterion for participation.

• Describe your role in accomplishing Rio’s Mission.

• Explain your role in the Accreditation process.

• Prepare for the HLC site visit on March 5-7, 2012.

Objectives

Accreditation Overview

What is accreditation?

• Rio Salado College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an independent corporation and one of two commissions of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

• NCA is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.

• It is a Peer Review Process, not a Government Process.

• It is an evaluative process, which includes setting goals and standards, conducting evaluations, and making improvements.

Self-Study 101

Telling Our Story

Purpose of a Self-Study

A Self-Study provides an opportunity for an institution to

formally examine itself and assess its strengths and

challenges in accomplishing its mission.

At Rio Salado College, the Self-Study process is based on the

College’s foundation of Relentless Improvement (R.I.).

Who’s Involved

• President Chris Bustamante

• Self-Study Co-Chairs are:

o Vernon Smith, Vice President Academic Affairs

o Hazel Davis, Faculty Chair, Library

• Self-Study Planning Team includes:

o College President

o Co-Chairs

o Sharon Koberna, Dean, Employee & Administrative Services

o Jennifer Shantz, Faculty Chair, Curriculum

o Genevieve Winters, Director of Institutional Effectiveness

o Nicole Albo, Associate Dean, Instruction & Healthcare Professions

Add

group

picture

here??

Steering Committee Members include:

•Planning Team Members

•Criterion Tri-Chairs:

Criterion One: Chris Bustamante, Angela Felix, Sharon Koberna

Criterion Two: Todd Simmons, Dana Reid, Kerrie Specker

Criterion Three: Pat Case, Jo Jorgenson, Kishia Brock

Criterion Four: Rick Kemp, Kirk Bowden, John Jensen

Criterion Five: Edward Kelty, Ron Burns, Melanie Abts

Every

College

Employee!!

What will the Self-Study

Accomplish?

Through the evaluative Self-Study and the ongoing efforts of

Quality Assurance (Q.A.), the College will increase:

o Student Learning

o Efficiency and Effectiveness of Programs

o Student and Partner Success

o Involvement of Key Stakeholders

PDCA Cycle

How do we conduct our

Self-Study?

• Using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle

o A process of continuous improvement; one that is never-ending; a practice to relentlessly improve a product or service

• PLAN: Develop a hypothesis or theory, review data, and plan a change/intervention

• DO: Carry out the change/intervention and observe the data

• CHECK: Compare data to theory and summarize knowledge

• ACT: Review the hypothesis or theory, then change process permanently

Quality Assurance (Q.A.) and

Relentless Improvement (R.I.)

• Q.A. = Meeting or exceeding targets set by the college-level

process owners and agreed to by leadership.

• R.I. = Achieving targets set by the college-level process

owners and leadership that are likely to need continual

attention and progress.

The Criteria

Criterion One:

Mission and Integrity

The organization operates with integrity to

ensure the fulfillment of its mission through

structures and processes that involve the

board, administration, faculty, staff, and

students.

Criterion Two:

Preparing for the Future

The organization’s allocation of resources and its

processes for evaluation and planning

demonstrate its capacity to fulfill its mission,

improve the quality of its education, and

respond to future challenges and

opportunities.

Criterion Three: Student Learning

and Effective Teaching

The organization provides evidence of student

learning and teaching effectiveness that

demonstrates it is fulfilling its educational

mission.

Criterion Four: Acquisition,

Discovery, and Application of

Knowledge

The organization promotes a life of learning for

its faculty, administration, staff, and students

by fostering and supporting inquiry, creativity,

practice, and social responsibility in ways

consistent with its mission.

Criterion Five:

Engagement and Service

As called for by its mission, the organization

identifies its constituencies and serves them

in ways both value.

Let’s

think!

Your Involvement in the

Self-Study Process

• Consider which Accreditation

Criterion you would like to read

and provide feedback

• Participate in various Self-Study

activities, such as completing

College surveys

• Explain how your role at the

College accomplishes our

Mission

• Visit the HLC SharePoint site often for updates on the

process, submit questions, and provide feedback:

http://ep2.riosalado.edu/teams/HLC2012/default.aspx

• Review draft of the Self-Study chapter on your

Accreditation Criterion and provide constructive feedback

(a feedback form will be provided)—you will be an Official

Reviewer of the Chapter

• Prepare for HLC Team visit: March 5-7, 2012

Importance of College Surveys

Do we have to be perfect? No…however, we do need to show that we

considered our practices, explained what we

are doing and why, and that we have a plan

in place for Q.A. or R.I.

Surveys help the College gather and provide evidence of Quality

Assurance (Q.A.) and Relentless Improvement (R.I.).

Some Employee Survey Results

Q: Results of data collection are effectively used throughout

Rio to support continuous improvement.

Q.A. Target: 80%

Score: 66.3%

Questions to ask yourself:

• What are the College’s student enrollment numbers?

• How many adjunct faculty members do we have?

A: What the College does with the data collection is…

Q: I am encouraged to take advantage of professional

growth opportunities.

Q.A. Target: 85%

Score: 70.33%

If you are one of the 29.67% who does not take advantage

of the professional growth opportunities, why not?

A: What the College is doing to encourage employees

is…

Q: I believe that my role at Rio effectively contributes to

the success of our students, partners, and communities.

Q.A. Target: 85%

Score: 91.67%

A: How does your role effectively contribute…

Questions?