SACS Reaffirmation Readiness Audit— pre-stage Compliance Review Quality Enhancement Plan

1. SACS Reaffirmation Readiness Audit— pre-stage Compliance Review Quality Enhancement Plan

2. SACS Compliance Requirements Principles of Accreditation • Integrity • Commitment to quality enhancement Compliance with the Core Requirements (12 [16 responses]) • Core requirement 12 is the quality enhancement plan Compliance with the Comprehensive Standards (14 [57 responses]) • Institutional mission, governance, and effectiveness • Programs • Resources Compliance with additional Federal Requirements (7)

3. Sample Requirements Core Requirement 2.5 • 2.5 The institution engages in ongoing, integrated, and institution-wide research-based planning and evaluation processes that (1) incorporate a systematic review of institutional mission, goals, and outcomes; (2) result in continuing improvement in institutional quality; and (3) demonstrate the institution is effectively accomplishing its mission. (Institutional Effectiveness)

4. Core Requirement 2.7General Education • Each undergraduate degree program, the institution requires the successful completion of a general education component at the collegiate level that (1) is a substantial component of each undergraduate degree, (2) ensures breadth of knowledge, and (3) is based on a coherent rationale.; for baccalaureate programs, a minimum of 30 semester hours or the equivalent. These credit hours are to be drawn from and include at least one course from each of the following areas: humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, and natural science/mathematics. (General Education)

5. Comprehensive Standard 3.5.1 • The institution identifies college-level general education competencies and the extent to which graduates have attained them. (College-level competencies) • Note: previous standard specified a general education core and required evidence that “graduates have attained those competencies.” New version frees general education from the core and does not require ALL graduates to attain the competencies.

6. Reaffirmation Year: 2013 Track B: Time line for institutions offering graduate and undergraduate programs or only graduate programs

7. Readiness Audit • Gain deep understanding of core requirements and comprehensive standards • Identify the right people to do the work • Identify problem areas (no surprises) • Potential compliance issues • Lack of documentation to provide evidence of compliance • Implement solutions • Have all technology and database support in place • Be completely ready to start preparing the narratives

8. First Steps • Initial review activities conducted by small planning group: • Provide initial interpretation of core requirements and comprehensive standards • Identify potential compliance issues • Identify potential documentation issues • Identify who should be part of the Compliance Certification team • Conduct initial research

9. Technology Needs • Informational Web site • Compliance Certification document Web site • Faculty credentials database • Take advantage of content management systems

10. Faculty Credentials • First step is an audit of the college and departmental faculty • How many transcripts are missing? • Person teaching without credentials-review of their statement of qualifications. Is it complete and meaningful? Will others agree with you based on your statement?

11. QEP • Quality Enhancement Plan • David Knox