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The NEW SACS

The NEW SACS. Everything You Wanted to Know About Accreditation, But Didn’t Care Enough to Ask. If this is the NEW SACS, what was the OLD SACS?. Last done at UTPA 1994-96 Was completed in January, 1996 470 MUST STATEMENTS Consumed thousands of work hours

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The NEW SACS

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  1. The NEW SACS Everything You Wanted to Know About Accreditation, But Didn’t Care Enough to Ask

  2. If this is the NEW SACS, what was the OLD SACS? • Last done at UTPA 1994-96 • Was completed in January, 1996 • 470 MUST STATEMENTS • Consumed thousands of work hours • Accounted for tens of thousands of pages • 2.5 library shelves, 3 inch, 3-ring binders.

  3. What is SACS? • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. • 11 southern states: AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA and Latin America • Designated Accrediting Agency by U.S. Congress • All institutions of higher education who award: baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degrees.

  4. Is accreditation mandatory? No, it is Voluntary! • Began in 1895 with six institutions. • Goal Then: Elevate the standard of scholarship in university education. • In business 110 years • Goal Now: Encourage continuous improvement in the quality of education.

  5. Who Cares? Parents, students, communities, governmental bodies, bonding agencies, trust officers, financial institutions, employers, graduate and professional schools, customers/clients/patients, alumni, etc. Accreditation gives creditability to classes taught, professors who teach, and degrees awarded.

  6. How Often is Each Member Reviewed? • Every ten years • Provisions for review if “substantive changes” occur – anytime

  7. How Does the NEW Process Work? • Began in 2001, after three years study • 11 schools “piloted” the NEW process • Texas A&M and Richland College • 2003-04 first year NEW process utilized • Three Teams • Leadership • Compliance Certificate • Quality Enhancement Plan

  8. What is a Leadership Team? • Short Answer: A Steering Committee • Coordinates • Manages, Administers, Conducts • Oversees, Supervise • Ensures, Insures, Guarantees • The Final Decision-maker

  9. Table of OrganizationThe Teams Leadership (11 Members) Bill Turk, Chair Compliance Certification Quality Enhancement (25 Members) (31 Members) Susan Griffith, Chair Judy Davidson, Chair

  10. What is a Certificate of Compliance Team? • Short Answer: An Audit Committee • Focused on Past and Present • 15 Core Requirements (basic qualifications) • 52 Comprehensive Standards (implicit requirements) • 8 Federal Requirements • Narrative and Documentation for each of the 75 Principles • Full-Compliance, Partial or Non

  11. CoC Example #1 Core Requirement 2.12 “The institution has developed an accept-able Quality Enhancement Plan and demonstrates that the plan is part of an ongoing planning and evaluation process.” Narrative (75 pages) and Documentation (25 pages)

  12. CoC Example #2 Core Requirement 2.10 “The institution provides student support programs, services, and activities consistent with its mission that promote student learning and enhance the development of its students.” [Learning Assistance, Academic Advisement, Counseling, Tutorial, Health] Narrative and Documentation (no limits)

  13. What is a Quality Enhancement Plan (Team)? • Short Answer: A Future Plan to Improve Student Learning “The QEP describes a carefully designed and focused course of action that addresses a well-defined topic or issue(s) related to enhancing student learning.” Handbook, page 21

  14. QEP Examples 1. Student Engagement with Learning Virginia Commonwealth University 2. Improving Student Learning Through Comprehensive Curriculum Development and Assessment LSU Alexandria 3. Active and Collaborative Learning in First Year Classes University of Alabama 4. Do the Right Thing: A Campus Conversation with Ethics Texas Tech University 5. Leaders Educated to Make a Difference Florida State University

  15. Quality Enhancement Plan Topics Under Consideration • Engagement of Life-long Learners • Active and Collaborative Learning for Student Success • Partnerships for Access and Success (recall the page limitations)

  16. What’s the time-frame? • Orientation in Atlanta June 13, 2005 • Compliance Certification Report Due Sept. 10, 2006 • Quality Enhancement Plan Due Feb. 5, 2007 • On-Site Peer Review Mar.-Apr., 2007 • Impact Report for QEP Jan.-Feb., 2012

  17. How many people? • Approximately 100 faculty, staff and students will be directly involved. • Every person associated with the University will have been contacted in some manner, will have responded to a survey, answered questions, furnished data or other information and/or attended a meeting. • Ultimately, will involveeveryone.

  18. How much money? • There is no reasonable way to account for all the costs. • Those which can be identified will likely run between $350,000 and $450,000 for the 2.5 year project.

  19. Is it Worth it? Absolutely! • Without accreditation our classes and degrees are worthless. • With accreditation, SACS affirms that UTPA is in compliance with the basic standards and principles established for the 786 institutions of higher education in its region.

  20. Can You Get More Information? YES! • Sources • The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement. 2004. SACS. • Handbook for Reaffirmation of Accreditation. 2003. SACS. • SACS Web Site: www.sacscoc.org • UTPA Web Site (under construction) • sacs.panam.edu

  21. Thank You! And now Your Questions?

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