University of Alaska Fairbanks Accreditation

1. University of Alaska Fairbanks Accreditation Alexandra Fitts September 4, 2018

2. What is accreditation? Regional accreditation is a process of recognizing educational institutions for performance, integrity, and quality that entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public. In the United States this recognition is extended largely through nongovernmental, voluntary membership associations that establish accreditation criteria, evaluate institutions against that criteria, and approving institutions that meet the criteria. UAF’s regional accreditor is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

3. Why does accreditation matter? It informs students and other constituents about the quality and stability of the institution. It allows students to qualify for federal financial aid. It allows students to transfer credits to other institutions. It helps employers determine the validity of programs of study and whether a graduate is qualified. It allows the institution to receive federal grant funding.

4. Who are the accreditors? National (generally faith-based and career institutions) Specialized and Programmatic (ABET, AACSB) Regional: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges Western Association of Schools and Colleges Higher Learning Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges WASC Senior College and University Commission

5. NWCCU Tribal, Public, and Private institutions in Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington NWCCU has a seven-year cycle: Mission and Core Themes (Year One) In the first 18 months of the seven‐year accreditation cycle, the institution conducts a thorough self evaluation with respect to Standard One and Eligibility Requirements 2 and 3. Following the self evaluation, it prepares a Mission and Core Themes Self‐Evaluation Report for submission to the Commission office. Mid‐Cycle (Year Three) Conducted in the third year of the seven year cycle, the Mid‐Cycle Evaluation is intended to ascertain an institution’s readiness to provide evidence (outcomes) of mission fulfillment and sustainability in the Mission Fulfillment Report. It is to assist institutions in determining if the process of outcomes assessment will lead them to a successful Mission Fulfillment self‐evaluation and peer evaluation. It is intended to be a formative and collegial evaluation with the institution in conversation with the evaluators. Mission Fulfillment (Year Seven) In year seven of the seven‐year accreditation cycle, the institution conducts a comprehensive self‐ evaluation on all Standards and Eligibility Requirements. In doing so it also updates its response to Standards One and Two to ensure its response to those Standards is current and relevant. Following the self evaluation, it prepares a Mission Fulfillment Self‐Evaluation Report for submission to the Commission office.

6. NWCCU Standards Standard One – Mission and Core Themes The institution articulates its purpose in a mission statement, and identifies core themes that comprise essential elements of that mission. In an examination of its purpose, characteristics, and expectations, the institution defines the parameters for mission fulfillment. Guided by that definition, it identifies an acceptable threshold or extent of mission fulfillment.

7. NWCCU Standards Standard Two – Resources and Capacity By documenting the adequacy of its resources and capacity, the institution demonstrates the potential to fulfill its mission, accomplish its core theme objectives, and achieve the intended outcomes of its programs and services, wherever offered and however delivered. Through its governance and decision‐making structures, the institution establishes, reviews regularly, and revises, as necessary, policies and procedures that promote effective management and operation of the institution.

8. NWCCU Standards Standard Three – Planning and Implementation The institution engages in ongoing, participatory planning that provides direction for the institution and leads to the achievement of the intended outcomes of its programs and services, accomplishment of its core themes, and fulfillment of its mission. The resulting plans reflect the interdependent nature of the institution’s operations, functions, and resources. The institution demonstrates that the plans are implemented and are evident in the relevant activities of its programs and services, the adequacy of its resource allocation, and the effective application of institutional capacity. In addition, the institution demonstrates that its planning and implementation processes are sufficiently flexible so that the institution is able to address unexpected circumstances that have the potential to impact the institution’s ability to accomplish its core theme objectives and to fulfill its mission.

9. NWCCU Standards Standard Four – Effectiveness and Improvement The institution regularly and systematically collects data related to clearly defined indicators of achievement, analyzes those data, and formulates evidence‐based evaluations of the achievement of core theme objectives. It demonstrates clearly defined procedures for evaluating the integration and significance of institutional planning, the allocation of resources, and the application of capacity in its activities for achieving the intended outcomes of its programs and services and for achieving its core theme objectives. The institution disseminates assessment results to its constituencies and uses those results to effect improvement.

10. NWCCU Standards Standard Five – Mission Fulfillment, Adaptation, and Sustainability Based on its definition of mission fulfillment and informed by the results of its analysis of accomplishment of its core theme objectives, the institution develops and publishes evidence‐based evaluations regarding the extent to which it is fulfilling its mission. The institution regularly monitors its internal and external environments to determine how and to what degree changing circumstances may impact its mission and its ability to fulfill that mission. It demonstrates that it is capable of adapting, when necessary, its mission, core themes, programs, and services to accommodate changing and emerging needs, trends, and influences to ensure enduring institutional relevancy, productivity, viability, and sustainability.

11. University of Alaska Fairbanks Mission Statement: The University of Alaska Fairbanks is a Land, Sea, and Space Grant university and an international center for research, education, and the arts, emphasizing the circumpolar North and its diverse peoples.  UAF integrates teaching, research, and public service as it educates students for active citizenship and prepares them for lifelong learning and careers.

12. UAF Core Themes Educate: Undergraduate and Graduate Students and Lifelong Learners Objective 1: Meet standards for learning outcomes of academic programs. Objective 2: Retain and graduate degree-seeking undergraduate students. Objective 3: Prepare undergraduate students for further study, future employment, and contemporary life. Objective 4: Mentor or guide graduate students to master a subject area or advance knowledge.

13. UAF Core Themes Research: Create and Disseminate New Knowledge, Insight, Technology, Artistic, and Scholarly Works Objective 5: Faculty publish peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and books. Objective 6: Exhibit and perform creative works. Objective 7: Engage graduate and baccalaureate students in research, scholarship, and creative activity. Objective 8: Collect, preserve, and provide access to intellectual, cultural, and natural history collections.

14. UAF Core Themes Prepare: Alaska's Career, Technical, and Professional Workforce Objective 9: Prepare students for the professional, career and technical workforce. Objective 10: Help prepare secondary students for post-secondary career pathways.

15. UAF Core Themes Connect: Alaska Native, Rural, and Urban Communities by Sharing Knowledge and Ways of Knowing Objective 11: Academic programs relevant to Alaska Native and rural residents are delivered broadly across Alaska. Objective 12: Alaska Native knowledge and ways of knowing are integrated into academic programs. Objective 13: Document and share Alaska Native and rural cultural and historical information.

16. UAF Core Themes Engage: Alaskans through Outreach for Continuing Education and Community and Economic Development Objective 14: Partner with Alaska communities on issues of mutual interest. Objective 15: Involve Alaskans in lifelong learning. Objective 16: Communicate research-based knowledge. Objective 17: Collaborate with individuals, businesses, and agencies to diversify and grow local and state economies.

17. Procedures For Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability comprehensive evaluations, peer evaluators from other accredited institutions study the institution’s Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability Self‐Evaluation Report, conduct an on‐site evaluation with respect to all Standards and Eligibility Requirements, and prepare a Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability Peer‐ Evaluation Report of findings and a Confidential Recommendation. For each evaluation, a draft of the Peer‐Evaluation Report is prepared and sent to the institution’s chief executive officer, who is given an opportunity to correct errors of fact. The Peer‐Evaluation Report is finalized and submitted to the Commission office. Evaluators submit the Confidential Recommendation to the Commission. The Confidential Recommendation is advisory only. Print and electronic copies of the Peer‐Evaluation Report are sent to the institution’s chief executive officer and Accreditation Liaison Officer. The institution is offered an opportunity to provide Commissioners with a written response to the Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability Peer‐Evaluation Report.

18. The Board of Commissioners considers the institution’s Self‐Evaluation Report, the Peer‐Evaluation Report, the institution’s written response to the Peer‐Evaluation Report (if submitted), verbal statements of the chair of the peer‐evaluation committee and institutional representatives (for Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability evaluations), the evaluators’ Confidential Recommendation, and third‐party comments (if any for Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability evaluations) in taking action on the reaffirmation of Accreditation. Commendations Concerns Recommendations

19. Commendations from 2011 report The Evaluation Committee commends UAF for the thorough and inclusive nature of their development of institutional Core themes involving a broad range of UAF constituencies and their deliberative identification of measurable indicators and objectives that help define Mission fulfillment. The Evaluation Committee commends UAF for their continuing, unwavering commitment to serving native and rural populations across the state through effective educational programming that is responsive to local community and state needs. That commitment also includes the collaborative establishment and operation of community partnerships that help sustain Alaska's rural economy. In recognition of UAF's unique location in the circumpolar North, the Evaluation Committee commends the institution for the depth and breadth of its activities focused around Alaska, the circumpolar North and their diverse peoples that encompass high quality educational, research and outreach programs.

20. Recommendations from 2011 report The Evaluation Committee recommends that UAF coordinate its planning and evaluation processes of Core themes in a systematic manner to help ensure that the institution's programs and services align with the accomplishment of the Core themes' objectives. (Standard 3.B.1 and 3.B.2 - Core Theme Planning, and Standard 4.A.1 - Assessment) The Evaluation Committee recommends that UAF evaluate its resource allocation processes and institutional capacity relative to its Core themes' objectives to help ensure adequacy, effectiveness and sustainability of its programs and services (Standard 5.B.2 - Adaptation and Sustainability) The Evaluation Committee recommends that UAF systematically implement and execute its educational assessment plan to consistently achieve identified program and degree learning outcomes and that assessment results be used to guide program improvement. (Standard 4.A.3 - Assessment)

21. Draft Timeline Sept. 23-25, 2019: Evaluators’ Site Visit Summer 2019: Editing, vetting, printing, mailing report Spring 2019: Drafting of report Fall 2018: Accreditation committee meetings Public forums? Gathering of information for report

22. Process Subcommittees Steering committee Homework Town Hall and evaluator training Access to materials Resources: https://www.chea.org/about-accreditation http://www.nwccu.org/ http://www.nwccu.org/accreditation/standards-policies/standards/ http://www.uaf.edu/accreditation/