Keeping Focus: WSCUC Interim Report Preparation

1. Keeping Focus: WSCUC Interim Report Preparation Meiling Tang, Ph.D., Touro University CaliforniaDiane Waryas, Ph.D., Touro University Nevada

2. Session Learning Outcomes • Understand the purpose & requirements of the Interim Report • Understand the process used by TUC to prepare the Interim Report • Understand the rationale for recommendations to aid preparation of your Interim Report

3. Touro University Western Division • Part of the Touro College & University System, a Jewish-sponsored independent institution, headquartered in NY • Includes two campuses: Touro University California (TUC) located in Vallejo, CA, and Touro University Nevada (TUN) located in Henderson, Nevada. • Both campuses are graduate/professional schools focusing on health care and education

4. Touro WSCUC History • Touro University is accredited by WSCUC under the name of TUC; TUN is considered a branch campus of TUC for accreditation purposes. • Last EER in 2010 • Interim Report due March 1, 2014

5. Interim Report Basics • Limited in scope, not comprehensive evaluations • Focus on the progress that institution has made in addressing the specific issues identified by the Commission & the major recommendations since last vising team • Consists of 2 sections: • Interim Report Form & Appendices (today’s focus) • Additional Required Data (if required)

6. Required Interim Report Elements • Cover page: Name of Institution; Person Submitting the Report; Report Submission Date • Statement on Report Preparation • List of Topics Addressed in this Report • Institutional Context • Response to Issues Identified by the Commission (Main Section) • Identification of Other Changes and Issues Currently Facing the Institution • Concluding Statement

7. The Submission Process • Use Box.Com to upload the report (No longer Live Text) • Instructions for creating Box account were provided in mid-January • A panel of Interim report committee members review the report within 90 days of receipt • Representatives from the institution will be invited for a conference call • The WASC staff liaison contacts the institution with the outcome of the review

8. Possible Review Outcomes • Receive the Interim Report with recommendations and commendations—No follow up required • Defer action pending receipt of follow-up • Request an additional Interim Report • Request a Progress Report (less formal than #3 and is reviewed only by the WASC staff liaison) • Receive the Interim Report with a recommendation that the Commission sends a site visit evaluation team

9. TUC’s Experience: Process and Suggestions

10. TUC’s Top Ten Tips… • Tip One: Start earlier than you think you need to (and save time at the end) • We started in May 2013 • Tip Two: Appoint a main coordinator • “If everyone leads, no one leads” • Recommend: Clarify project flow and communication routes • Tip Three: Set deadlines • Multiple—and give people turnaround time and reminders • Plan to look at the first combined draft at least three months before deadline

11. … • Tip Four: Divide and conquer • Charge smaller teams with writing and appoint a team lead • Request content in bullet points to make merging easier (template?) • Think broadly when identifying project team (AA’s are a great asset!) • Recommend: Request content in smaller pieces instead of all at once • Recommend: Frame content expectations for writers—avoid a compositional free-for-all

12. … • Tip Five: Use a centralized content management system • Consider using project management tools also (e.g. GANTT charts) • Tip Six: Manage project details from the start to save time • Maintain active contributor lists as you go—who did what and her/his title (see template) • Keep all of your drafts • Agree upon and use a common naming convention for support materials

13. … • Tip Seven: Use WSCUC published review criteria • Structure your responses using the criteria (detail and examples are a plus) • Give the criteria to your readers to “evaluate” your draft and final version • Tip Eight: Publicize the process (it’s a campus educational opportunity) • Tip Nine: Ask WSCUC questions if you have them • Tip Ten: Upload…..and wait to submit

14. Where to budget your time: “Response to Issues Identified by Commission” • Majority of your writing time and final product • Biggest aspect of project to manage • Overestimate the time you think you need to write this section • Example: TUC had five topics each with several subtopics: • Clinical Education, Institutional Outcomes, Program Review, Relationships with the Touro System, Faculty Development *Of the 76 total pages of the Interim Report, 63 were dedicated to this section

15. The Silver Lining—Good Things that Came from the Interim Report Process • Increased campus awareness of regional accreditation • New opportunities for collaboration • Renewed awareness of accreditation related priorities • Set the stage to rollout the 2013 Handbook for Accreditation • We all learn more about our shared organization • Was educational for new CEO and Senior Provost and her Chief of Staff

16. Questions?

17. Thank you! Meiling Tang meiling.tang@tu.edu 707-638-5880 Diane Waryas diane.waryas@tun.touro.edu 702-777-1763