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SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation 2015

SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation 2015. Why is Accreditation so Important? Assures the public that institutions meet established standards Serves as a “gate-keeper” for federal financial aid Improves quality throughout the institution Without reaffirmation

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SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation 2015

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  1. SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation 2015

  2. Why is Accreditation so Important? • Assures the public that institutions meet established standards • Serves as a “gate-keeper” for federal financial aid • Improves quality throughout the institution • Without reaffirmation • Loss of reputation and respect • Loss of federal funding • Loss of opportunities for graduates

  3. The SACS Reaffirmation Process • Institution Prepares • Compliance Certification (On-line), and • Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) • Review by the Commission on Colleges • Offsite Review of Compliance Certification • Report on findings (with potential Focused Report response) • On-Site Review; 1) QEP, 2) non-compliance issues, and 3) selected issues for US DOE • Report to Institution • Final Steps • Institutional response to Commission • Reaffirmation of Accreditation at SACS Annual Meeting (December 2015)

  4. External Timeline • Online Compliance Certification Submitted – September 2014 • Review by Off-site Team – November 2014 • QEP due to SACS – Six weeks prior to On-site Review • On-site Team Visits Campus – January - April 2015 • Report from On-Site Committee – June 2015 • Institutional Response to Report due – October/November 2015 • Reaffirmation of Accreditation – December 2015

  5. Major Elements of Accreditation • Enunciated in 86 “Principles for Reaffirmation” • Examples of Core Standards • Institution and Governance (including role of Board, administrative officers, General Education) • Institutional Effectiveness (outcomes assessment, QEP) • Programs (length, approval, admissions, academic support, curriculum) • Faculty (Credentials, evaluation, development, academic freedom, governance) • Resources (Library, staff, student affairs, financial) • SACS Policy (Substantive change, representation of status) • Examples of Federal Requirements • Student Achievement • Student Complaints • Recruitment Materials • Publication of Policies • Title IV • Student Authentication • Definition of Credit Hour • State Authorization for Distance Education

  6. Core Requirements (CR) – sample below; see handout

  7. Required Credentials (Faculty – FT and PT) • Vita (current within 5 years on Digital Measures) • Official Transcript(s) (terminal and/or discipline of instruction, or documented and attested equivalent) • Letters of Appointment (or equivalent) • Annual Continuance Letters (T-E) • Tenure & Promotion Letters (T-E) • Graduate Faculty Appointments, if applicable • Annual Faculty Evaluations

  8. Required Credentials (Graduate Teaching Associate [GTA] file) Should include the following: • Vita (current within 5 years on Digital Measures; upload capability to be developed) • Official Transcript(s) • Documented 18 hours of graduate credit in the discipline (or related discipline) AND completion of the Basic Skills in College Teaching (BSCT) Program or equivalent • Appointment form signed by employing Department Head, College Dean and Graduate Dean

  9. Faculty Roster Information Required (Full and Part-time): D, UN, UT, G: Developmental, Undergraduate Nontransferable, Undergraduate Transferable, Graduate Form & Instructions: http://sacscoc.org/cctemplates.asp

  10. Instructions for Faculty Roster Tenure Home

  11. Faculty Roster Instructions Continued: WKU Form & Instructions: http://sacscoc.org/cctemplates.asp

  12. Internal Process and Timeline (1) • Leadership Team Formed – March 2012 • Identify teams to address each of the SACS Principles – April 2012 • Create Website for uploading of information – April 2012 • Solicit QEP concept papers – April 2012 • Identify QEP topic – Fall 2012

  13. Internal Process and Timeline (2) • Produce Draft Compliance Certification – May 2013 • Online draft reviewed internally– Summer 2013 • Make improvements suggested by internal review team – by March 2014 • Mock Onsite Visit – April 2014 • Make Necessary Improvements – August 2014 • Submit Final Report – September 2014

  14. Department Head Involvement • Must demonstrate sufficient full-time faculty by academic program • At least 25% of major hours taught by terminally-credentialed faculty • Appropriate credentials for Program Coordinators • Credentials for all faculty and GTAs

  15. What does this Mean in the Coming Year? • Requests for verification of faculty credentials • On-going unit action planning and program-level • assessment of learning outcomes • Syllabi for all courses should: • include learning outcomes • follow WKU policy (posting on TopNet, etc.)

  16. July 26, 2012 – Dr. Belle Wheelan, President of SACS

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