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SNU HLC/NCA Accreditation Update SNU Graduate & Professional Studies Fall Meeting. October 24, 2008. SNU Accreditation www.snu.edu/hlc. through North Central Association (NCA)’s Higher Learning Commission (HLC) SNU Self-Study providing 10-year look at campus
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SNU HLC/NCA Accreditation UpdateSNU Graduate & Professional Studies Fall Meeting October 24, 2008
SNU Accreditationwww.snu.edu/hlc • through North Central Association (NCA)’s Higher Learning Commission (HLC) • SNU Self-Study providing 10-year look at campus • Preparations underway for NCA/HLC campus visit October 5-7, 2009
Accreditation Self-Study Telling the SNU Story • Are we doing what we say we are doing? • What are our strengths and our challenges? • How can we prepare for the future? • What do we want students to learn and how well are they learning?
HLC Criteria/Themes 2. Preparing for the Future 5. Engagement & Service 1. Mission & Integrity A. Future-oriented D. Distinctive C. Connected B. Learning-focused 3. Student Learning & Effective Teaching 4. Acquisition, Discovery, & Application of Knowledge
Observations emerging from • SNU surveys (faculty, staff, students, alumni, department chairs, Board) • National surveys with comparative data (SSI-students, NSSE-students, HERI-faculty, BCW-staff/faculty) • Findings of SNU faculty/staff committees based on evidence from interviews & examination of documents
Sample faculty findings • competent colleagues • need to reward faculty for good teaching • student ethnic diversity educationally valuable • not enough involvement in campus decision-making • department alignment with SNU mission
highest stressors: lack of personal time, working with underprepared students, self-imposed high expectations • electronic databases top priority for library • need to link planning & budget decisions to mission • appreciate having flexibility in the workplace • need improved teamwork across departments
Higher than the national average for religious 4-year colleges • emphasis on personal service & using scholarship to address community needs • professional support through travel funds, internal research grants, association memberships/dues, paid sabbaticals, workshops on classroom teaching • adequate support for integrating technology into the classroom
Core Strengths • Widespread support for SNU mission • Institutional partnerships • Educational access for students • Commitment to student learning • Programs addressing educational needs • Innovation in learning environments • Culture of service • Strong connection with sponsoring church • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Recommendations • Do more to address diversity • Continue to improve campus security & emergency preparedness • Improve campus communication • Follow our graduates after graduation • Publicize faculty accomplishments • Equip adjunct instructors • Emphasize doing & using assessment
More discussions around • Academic freedom • Acknowledging faculty contributions • Dealing with plagiarism • Under-prepared students • Diversity on campus • Global & environmental emphases • Research & scholarship • Church relationships
. . . as an instructor? • Reporting on adjunct faculty professional involvements & activities • New means of routine communication • Emergency preparedness emphasis • Collecting information on former students • Faculty development opportunities
. . . in my classes? • Increased attention to assessment & learning outcomes • Continuing emphasis on academic honesty • Technology promoting learning • Curricular global perspectives • “Green” emphasis on campus
Credits Created for SNU GPS Faculty Meeting, 24 October 2008 by Gwen Ladd Hackler, ghackler@snu.edu Photo credits, in order of appearance: www.campaignadvantage.com www.hcahlc.org www.youngstown.edu