Thursday 08 November 2012

1. Accreditation in Support of Institutional Effectiveness and the Self Study Writing Process: The Case of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. Thursday 08 November 2012

2. Name Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane Year Chartered 1993 Year Started 1995 Year 1st Degree Offered 1999 Type of Control Independent, Not for Profit Degree Level BA, MA Number of Faculty 148 (15 p.t., 35 women, 53 international) Number of Students 1,764 (99 non degree, 52% girls, 21 nationalities) Main Characteristics US Style of Education, Fee Paying, English Medium, Liberal Arts, etc.

3. Quality Ingredients at AUI 1/3 • Accountability to stakeholders (Board, Parents, Employers) • Competition • Student Voice • Faculty Involvement • Staff Say • Flexibility to adjust/respond to change

4. Quality Ingredients at AUI 2/3 • Mission • Vision • Strategic Plan (as a road map, AUI is at its 3rd S.P. Cf. next slide) • Internal Evaluation • External Evaluation (cf. slide) • Institutional Research Office (data collection, surveys, etc.) In the works.

5. Quality Ingredients at AUI 3/3 AUI Strategic Plan Seven priorities: • Reinforcement of the North American Educational Model • Quality Assurance and Accreditation • Growth and Development • Internationalization of the campus • Financial Sustainability • Educational Leadership and Innovation • Human Capital Development

6. External Evaluation at AUI Reviewers, board of trustees, accrediting agencies, certifying agencies, employers, etc. • 2002 UNDP, British Quality Assurance Agency (SSE and SBA,) MFT. • 2007 Tempus Project with UPC for Quality Management of Universities (EDUQUEX) • 2009 LC and CEA 52/52 • 2010 SBA and EPAS 59/68 • 2011 SSE and ABET 53/56 • 2012 SHSS and validation of programs • 2012 AUI and NEASC – under way . . . (next slide)

7. Major Milestones 1/2 • 2009 Work on Report of Eligibility • 06/2010 Report of Eligibility submitted • 10/2010 Eligibility Visit + Report • 12/2010 AUI granted Eligible Status • 01/2011 Start work on Self Study for Candidacy • 10/2011 Attend Self Study Workshop • 01/2012 Self Study submitted

8. Major Milestones 2/2 • 03/2012 Review Team Visit + Report • 04/2012 Report sent to / reviewed by AUI for factual accuracy • 05/2012 Finalized report submitted to commission • 07/2012 Official response to report by AUI to commission • 11/2012 Decision on Candidacy Status

9. Who do we write the self study for?2 audiences . . . 2 functions Commission, Team Self Public function Private function External audience Internal audience Stress product Stress process 100 pages ++ Study self against standards Deserve public trust? Reflection, inquiry, development Quality Assurance Quality Improvement

10. Who writes the self study? • Several scenarios possible • Cf. size, age, (non) initial accreditation • AUI: 5 committees and 1 steering committee (42 members total) • Get ‘everybody’ on board: faculty, staff, executives, students (later,) board also, • Process involves all stakeholders • Combine standards (e.g. cmt A and stds 1, 2, 3, 10, and 11.)

11. NEASC Standards • Mission and Purposes • Planning and Evaluation • Organization and Governance • The Academic Program • Faculty • Students • Library and Other Information Resources • Physical and Technological Resources • Financial Resources • Public Disclosure • Integrity (No Starter. Must from start. All others aspirational.)

12. Standards and Mission • All standards to be addressed wrt own mission • Self study is voluntary ‘self’ + ‘study’ • It’s not compliance, not audit, not inspection, not check list with yes/no, • It’s self regulation, deep / nuanced analysis, evaluation / assessment by peers

13. AUI Mission Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane is an independent, public, not-for-profit, coeducational Moroccan University committed to educating future citizen-leaders of Morocco and the world through a globally oriented, English-language, Liberal Arts curriculum based on the American system. The University enhances Morocco and engages the world through leading-edge educational and research programs, including continuing and executive education, upholds the highest academic and ethical standards, and promotes equity and social responsibility.

14. Structure, Outline / Standard Description Appraisal Projection What do we How well do we What do we commit to do wrt the std? meet the std? do to improve?

15. Self Study Core: Appraisal Appraisal = Analysis = O S W E C • O Opportunity (to reflect, learn, benchmark) • S Strengths (identify them and make sure you maintain them) • W Weaknesses (identify, address, improve) • E Evidence (how do you know?) • C Candor (assures credibility)

16. 2nd Most Important Component of Self Study: Projection • Projection = forecast, plan, commitment • Should give very specific / crisp answers to: • What: precise, doable, exact, clear • Who: assigned PIC or CIC • When: short / mid range, clear timeline • How: means (human or other)

17. Content of Self Study -- cf. 5 Cs Comprehensive: all students, all locations, all modes of delivery Concise: more substance, fewer pages Coherent: one voice, not 11 separate reports Candid: nobody’s perfect Compelling: unique institutional ‘story’ NEASC Accreditation Workshop

18. What we have gained 1/3 • Improved governance • Work room, with lots of data, now centralized • Several policies either finalized or developed • More policies posted on web • Better and more planning • Culture of evidence put in place • Assessment in general, and assessment of student learning in particular, clearer to all

19. What we have gained 2/3 • ILOs of programs (some programs) now in place • ILOs to become ALOs • Got academic community on board • Mission: many more AUI stakeholders are aware of it now • Idem with S.P. • Reviewed UCC, w/ more room for Liberal Arts and electives to come • Much improved academic advising

20. What we have gained 3/3 • Reviewed contracts w/ improved benefits package • More smart classrooms (being generalized.) • New / much improved website • More efficient response to requests for information • Creation of ombudsperson’s position, or DMO Dispute Management Office • Improved sense of focus and energy

21. First hand lessons learnt. . . and shared 1/3 • Get ready for the challenge; it’s worth it; “it’s transformational” • Involve all stakeholders on campus; be inclusive • Identify those who deliver, (want to) know about the institution • Establish committees but be flexible about their constitution

22. First hand lessons learnt. . . and shared 2/3 • Start collecting what you have; you have a lot • Plan, plan, and plan • Work from a backwards calendar • Read standards, re read, and re read • Review Data First / E / S forms very early and regularly • Remember: it’s Description, Appraisal, Projection

23. First hand lessons learnt. . . and shared 3/3 • Identify two good writers for Unity of voice • Be open, honest, candid • Involve IT early in process • Make sure self study is on agendas of all . . . and . . . • Motivate, encourage, celebrate

24. . . . and . . . another lesson / quote from NEASC workshop: “An excellent self-study is a good tool. A weak self-study is still a good tool.”

25. . . . sooo . . .

26. Just Do It !!

27. Thank you!