North Central Association Higher Learning Commission

1. North Central Association Higher Learning Commission Chair/Director Retreat August 14, 2012

2. What’s Different? • NCA-Higher Learning Commission • Every 10 years regional accreditation • Institutional Self-study • 2 years to produce • Hundreds of pages • Resource Room • New methodology – Open Pathway • BGSU is one of 14 Pioneers in Cohort 1

3. Open Pathway • Two components • Quality Initiative • Assurance Document

4. Quality Initiative • New proposal/project to improve institutional quality • Original proposal identified two areas • Enrollment Management and General Education • HLC Consultants visited Mar. 2010 • Expand the student populations for BGSU enrollment and implement programs to recruit them and retain them to successful degree completion. University Learning Commons

5. Quality Initiative • Report Team in place • Albert Colom, Joe Frizado, Marc Nelson, Michelle Simmons • First Draft is complete • Report is due Aug. 31, 2012 • Maximum 6,000 words • Review occurs during fall

6. Assurance Document • Replaces the self study • Moved to an online process • Requires answering a series of prompts to address each criteria

7. New Criteria • Mission • Integrity: Ethical & Responsible Conduct • Teaching & Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support • Teaching & Learning: Evaluation and Improvement • Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness

8. Example 3.C The institution has the faculty and staff needed for effective, high-quality programs and student services. • The institution has sufficient numbers and continuity of faculty members supported by effective structures to carry out both the classroom and the non-classroom roles of faculty, including oversight of the curriculum and expectations for student performance; establishment of academic credentials for instructional staff; involvement in assessment of student learning.

9. Assurance Document • 35,000 words total • Only 15 user accounts (3 system) • Only PDF may be uploaded • Only PDF directly referenced will be kept • Only 6 URL • Course Catalog • Faculty Handbook • Student Handbook • Staff Handbook • Class Schedules • Faculty roster

10. BGSU Team • Mission – Joe Frizado • Integrity – Pat Pauken • Teaching & Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support – Simon Morgan-Russell • Teaching & Learning: Evaluation and Improvement - Sue Houston • Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness – Rodney Rogers

11. Assurance Document Process • Assemble the writing/data collection team • Create a first draft * • Collect and upload data*

12. Collect Data • Faculty Credentials • All faculty should have an official transcript showing award of the highest degree • Faculty should hold an appropriate degree for every class taught. • Errors/discrepancies must be addressed

13. Collect Data • Faculty Activities • Need to demonstrate currency and contributions to “scholarship, creative work and discovery of knowledge” • Move Annual Faculty Update Form to digital • Transfer data from past year(s) to new system

14. Assurance Document Process • Assemble the writing/data collection team • Create a first draft * • Collect and upload data* • Technical Editing • Assemble a review team* • Edit the draft into final form

15. Summary- Due Dates • Quality Initiative – Aug. 31, 2012 • Assurance File – Mar. 15, 2013 • Draft complete late Fall • Review over break/early spring • Federal Compliance Document – Mar. 15, 2013 • HLC Campus Visit – April 15, 2013*