Principles of Accreditation

1. Principles of Accreditation Dr. Claude Pressnell TICUA, Nashville, Tennessee

2. Overview • May Conference in Budapest, HU • Presenters • Marjorie Lenn Peace • Stephen Spangehl • Focus on broad aspects of institutional accreditation

3. Overview • Next Steps • Focus on the institution level • Understanding the principles of accreditation • Accreditation is a collaborative process

4. Introduction • Bologna Declaration of 1999 • Easily readable and comparable degrees • Two main cycles • Undergraduate – three years • Graduate – five years • Masters – two years • Doctorate – three years • System of credits (ECTS) • Student mobility • International cooperation in quality assurance

5. Introduction • United States Model of Accreditation • Higher Learning Commission • Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools • Regional Accreditation concept

6. Introduction • Participation in the United States is voluntary • Member institutions of the regional bodies develop, amend, and approve accreditation policies • The process of accreditation is representative, responsive, and appropriate to the types of institutions accredited.

7. Introduction • Accreditation is self-regulation • Requires institutional commitment and engagement • Based upon the peer-review process • Requires commitment to student learning and achievement

8. Introduction • Acknowledges an institution’s prerogative to articulate its mission within the recognized context of higher education and its responsibility to show that it is accomplishing its mission.

9. Introduction • Expects an institution to develop a balanced governing structure designed to promote institutional autonomy and flexibility of operation. • Expects an institution to ensure that its programs are complemented by support structures and resources that allow total growth and development of its students.

10. Fundamentals of Accreditation • Institutional Mission • Governance and Administration • Educational Programs • Faculty • Library and Other Learning Resources • Financial and Physical Resources

11. What to Expect? • Tuesday and Wednesday • Cover the basic principles of accreditation and gain a working understanding of how those principles are measured • Thursday and Friday • Workshops using the working understanding of the principles you will begin to grapple with how to measure these issues on your campus

12. Tuesday • Morning Sessions • Overview and Introduction • Mission, Purpose, Goals – Basis for Institution Evaluation • Afternoon Sessions • University Governance and Administration • Begin Discussions on Education Programs

13. Wednesday • Morning Sessions • Finish session on Education Programs • Faculty • Afternoon Sessions • Library and Other Learning Resources • Student Affairs and Services • Financial and Physical Resources

14. Thursday and Friday • Workshops will parallel the sessions from Tuesday and Wednesday • Each session will begin with a 10 to 15 minute briefing and then there will be one hour planning sessions followed by a 15 minute group debriefing.

15. Final Word • When you leave you should: • Have a working knowledge of the core principles of accreditation and institutional self studies • Have a cursory understanding of where your institution matches up to these principles • Begin the framework of a game plan on how to implement a self-study at your university • Begin to identify key stakeholders for the process

16. Principles of Accreditation Dr. Claude Pressnell TICUA, Nashville, Tennessee