370 likes | 575 Views
SACS Reaffirmation. Robert B. Bradley Ruth Feiock: SACS Liaison March 2014 Chairs and Deans Meeting. THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Reaffirmation: Reminder.
E N D
SACS Reaffirmation Robert B. Bradley Ruth Feiock: SACS Liaison March 2014 Chairs and Deans Meeting THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Reaffirmation:Reminder • Accreditation reaffirmed by SACSCOC every ten years (our regional accrediting ) • Why is it important? • Federal funding • Student Financial Aid • Federal Contracts and Grants • Reputation • State Requirements • Commitment to higher education • Desire to continuously improve quality
What is Involved in Compliance Certification Report? • Core Requirements • 12 requirements, all of which must be met • Comprehensive Standards - 66 components • Federal Requirements - 12 components • 94 Specific Components plus applicable policies and guidelines
Accreditation Review • Involves three reviews 1. Off-site peer review – November 2013 2. On-site peer review – March 2014 • Tallahassee; • FSU Panama City, Florida; • FSU Panama, Republic of Panama; • Sarasota, Asolo Conservatory 3. Review by Commission’s Board of Trustees - December 2014
SACS Compliance Documents Were Submitted – September 2013 • Digital Submission • Text of more than 500 pages of narrative • Approximately 3,500 associated files of documentation (each hyperlinked to narrative on the relevant standard) • Drew upon university data files and systems covering topics such as effectiveness, student courses, faculty member vitae
Off-Site Peer Review Conducted November 2013 Twelve Member Committee lead by: Provost Bert Bach, East Tennessee State University SACS Staff Leader – Dr. Cheryl D. Cardell, Vice President, SACSCOC Other members include, but not limited to: Provost, Dean of Libraries, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life, Vice Presidents for Finance (two), Chancellor of Medical School, Faculty Member, and Dean
Off-Site Committee Identified Six Deficiencies • Information on state financial audit was not available (This is always late) • Statement on non-dismissal of BOT members was not explicit (This requires a short note) • Sample size was too small for Institutional effectiveness of Academic and Student Support Services • Sampling method for Institutional Effectiveness of General Education was not specific enough • The qualifications of 11 faculty members was questioned • The use of evaluation of faculty was not documented adequately, especially with regard to student learning
By Way of Comparison • In 2004, 13 deficiencies were identified by the off-site committee for FSU • It is not uncommon to receive 20 or more deficiencies
Conducted On-Campus Visits & Consultations • December: Dr. Charles A. Taylor Vice President, SACSCOC (assigned FSU) • January Dr. David R. Hager Sr., Chair, Emeritus Professor of Higher Education and International Studies Old Dominion University Chair of FSU On-Site team
Subsequent Submittals • A Focused Report addressing each of the six deficiencies identified by the Off-Site Committee • Updated Institutional Summary • Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) – “Think FSU” • Summaries of major elements of • FSU Panama City, • FSU Panama and • FSU at Asolo Conservatory (Sarasota)
What Will Be the Focus of the On-Site Team? • Detailed Consideration of the QEP • Examination of the Focused Report • Follow up to 21 Standards and Requirements of Specific Interest to Federal Officials • Investigation of Any Elements of the Compliance Report About Which they have questions • Reports on Each Off-Campus Site
What Will They Do During Their Visits? • Work out of the Turnbull Center and Hotel Duval • Conduct a series of meetings with groups and individuals on campus, as needed • Examine files and information about which they have questions • Participate in no socializing or receptions • Write Their Report and Make Recommendations for Consideration by the SACSCOC
What Will They Consider During Their Meetings? • Governance and Administration • Compliance with SACSCOC policies • Personnel Issues • Physical Facilities • Library Resources • Technology • Finances • Access to Student Support Programs • Institutional Effectiveness • Detailed Inquiry into Distance Learning • Extensive Review of the QEP
Common Problem Areas • Orderly processes and governance practices • Each course is taught by faculty with acceptable qualifications with the appropriate evidence • Number of full-time faculty is adequate to support mission and ensure quality • Complete set of student learning and program outcomes and their use for education, administration, support, research and service (Institutional Effectiveness) • Evidence of on-going, integrated and institution wide research based planning and evaluation • College level general education competencies • General education component meets criteria • Distance Education meets all criteria • Off campus Instructional Programs meet all criteria • Acceptable Quality Enhancement Plan with funding
When Will We Find Out Results? • Exit conference: report recommendations with institution’s leadership • Possible: Response to the Visiting Committee Report if one or more recommendations made with due date in transmittal letter • Vote of Commission in December 2014
General Information • Know the status of your faculty files • Original transcripts are located in the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement and scanned into NOLIJ • CVs are located in FEAS • Evaluations are maintained in the department or college. • Know university policies • Some may be found at policies.fsu.edu. • Be Available for visits With Onsite Team March 25 – 26 • In general, be positive and respond directly to the question asked. • Institutional Effectiveness – under scrutiny
QEP Evaluator Lunch with Deans and Department Chairs • Working Lunch scheduled with deans and separately department chairs is still under consideration by on-site team • March 26, 2014 • Turnbull Center
Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans • Institutional Effectiveness • Academic Program Coordination • Faculty • Credentials • Evaluation • Development • Governance • General Education • Faculty Adequacy • Student Support Services • Substantive Change Policy • Quality Enhancement Plan • Other FSU policies http://policies.fsu.edu/
Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans • Institutional Effectiveness • Located in the university’s institutional effectiveness portal • Student learning outcomes identified by faculty • Student learning outcomes reviewed by faculty, dean’s office, and Planning and Programs • Results used to make continuous improvement – be able to cite specific examples • Academic Program Coordination • Coordinators are qualified to provide curricular oversight (typically based on highest degree) • Often, the department chair or program director is the academic program coordinator
Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans • Faculty Competence • Primary consideration to highest degree earned and justify document qualifications • Faculty Evaluation • regularly performed, uses student feedback • Faculty Development • Ongoing professional development • Faculty Role in Governance • Faculty responsible for student learning and program outcomes • Curriculum
Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans • General Education • General Education defined by the Florida Legislature • General Education Competencies identified by the UPC • Courses in which students master these competencies are identified by the UPC • Assessments and results are entered into the Institutional Effectiveness Portal • Improvements are reflected in curriculum modifications • Faculty Adequacy • All programs have adequate faculty based on national norms • Standard relates to academic programs, not majors
Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans • Academic and Student Support Services • Advising • Financial Aid • Registration • Library • Technology • Career Counseling • Health • Tutoring
Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans • Off-Campus Sites • Controlled by the main campus following campus policies • Academic degree programs are identical • Faculty meet same credentialing requirement • Faculty evaluation uses same standards
Areas of Special Interest to Chairs and Deans • Substantive Change Policy • SACSCOC requires notification and approval of certain changes • Offering program at off-campus location • Closing program at off-campus location • Terminating an academic degree program • Teach out of students • Moving a branch campus • Reinstating a terminated program
On-Site Committee will want to see more of the Institutional Effectiveness portal than the sample we submitted and know how we use it
On-Site Committee may want to review files (transcripts, CVs, evaluations, letters) of a sample of 4,000 faculty and Graduate Students
Where Can I Find Information? • FSU Website: www.sacs.fsu.edu • SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation • Compliance Certification Report • Focused Report • Branch Campus Summaries • Quality Enhancement Plan • Substantive Change Policy • Institutional Effectiveness
One More Matter:The University QEP • Chair: Professor Helen Burke will provide overview