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ACCREDITATION. Community Day February 1, 2011. Significance of Accreditation. Accreditation – Allows the students at KC to apply for Federal and/or State Financial aid Employers often require that its employees graduate from accredited institutions
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ACCREDITATION Community Day February 1, 2011
Significance of Accreditation • Accreditation – • Allows the students at KC to apply for Federal and/or State Financial aid • Employers often require that its employees graduate from accredited institutions • States often require graduates who apply for licenses to graduate from accredited institutions • A means of lessening the impact of cost and the burden of external controls on colleges
What is Accreditation? • Accreditation is a process that allows a college to demonstrate that what it says it is doing--it is actually doing • It gives the college the opportunity to examine its own beliefs and how it lives them out • It gives the college the opportunity to examine itself to see where it is doing well, where it exceeds its beliefs, and where it can improve
The Accreditation Process • The process involves the whole institution –faculty, administration, staff, students, and trustees • It involves writing a self-study which explores the college and presents the college’s story as compared to a set of criteria • It involves a visit from a an evaluation team to see if what was written is indeed what is found • It takes time and commitment
Keuka’s ACCREDITATION • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is our accrediting body-- • The last accreditation was 8 years ago and the college was accredited for 10 years (2002-2012). • The college has to provide further evidence and reports during this time • Accreditation allows us to participate in many programs that support the college community
REACCREDITATION • The ten years are almost up and now the college has to go through the reaccreditation process • It involves the same groups • Administration, trustees, faculty, staff and students • It requires an in-depth self study • It will require a visit from a team • It validates what we have been doing and allows us to look to the future and prepare for what we can do • It provides insights into areas that we need to improve and gives the opportunity to be publically proud of what we do well
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? • Self-Regulation and Peer Review • Strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of higher education
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Increase accountability to both internal and external constituents • Review, evaluate, and strengthen the processes employed for annual and long-term planning and budgeting to ensure Keuka’s future • Review our educational programs and services so as to enhance teaching, student learning and achievement
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? “Institutional improvement through self-analysis” Key activities of the self-study process: • Analysis • Evaluation • Identifying strategies for continued improvement
WHAT IS THE PROCESS? 1. The college establishes chair persons for the process • Ann Tuttle and Tim Sellers were identified for KC 2. The Chairs identify a Steering Committee 3. The Steering Committee and Administration address key issues • Steering Committee works on study design
WHAT IS THE PROCESS? • Charge for the Steering Committee • Create research questions to be answered • Identify “task forces” or “working groups” to answer the questions • Develop chapter drafts with working groups • Communicate the goals of the self-study and encourage broad participation in the self-study process • Arrange for institution –wide review of and responses to a draft of the self-study • Oversee the completion of the final self-study report and documents relevant to the self-study process and team visit
WHAT IS THE PROCESS? Charge for the Taskforces/Working Groups: • Address the research questions • Gather and analyze evidence, using existing documents or developing new documents • Produce outlines of drafts in collaboration with Steering Committee • Produce final drafts of reports
WHAT IS THE PROCESS? • The entire institution will be needed to complete the self study • Data will be sought from all members of the community • Many people not currently on a task force will be asked to participate at some point • The Steering Committee will also prepare for a site visit • A site visit occurs when several visitors come to the campus – in this case the Main Campus, various sites for ASAP, and sites in China and Vietnam
WHAT IS THE PROCESS? The site visit (Spring 2013) • The visitors will meet with various members of the college community • They will informally “chat” with various community members • They will review materials gathered by the Steering Committee and the various task forces • The visitors are comparing what was said in the self study with what they find at the college.
AFTER THE VISIT • After the site visitors leave, they will write a report and submit it to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for a final determination. • Assessment remains embedded and evident in the institutional processes
Outcomes of Self-Study • Celebration of institutional strengths • Development of action plans to address recommendations for improvement • An institution unified through involvement • Commitment to a shared understanding and vision of a Keuka education