Surviving Reaffirmation: Two TSTC Approaches to Compliance & the QEP

1. Surviving Reaffirmation:Two TSTC Approaches to Compliance & the QEP Texas Association for Institutional Research 27th Annual Conference February 23, 2005 Presented by Kathy Kennedy Manager-ORPA SACS Accreditation Liaison Blanca Treviño Bauer Director-IER SACS Accreditation Liaison

2. Two Essential Components of Reaffirmation • Compliance Certification • Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

3. The First Component: The Compliance Certification

4. TSTC Harlingen’s Story… • Reviewed work of pilot institution’s • Selected SACS Leadership Team (SLT) • SLT assigned Principles based on expertise/area of responsibility • Established aggressive timelines • Narratives completed by Dec. ’03, BUT format of all later changed • Little attention paid to QEP development

5. Approaching Compliance: • Select a Leadership Team with authority • Set aggressive timeline based on complexity of each Principle • Ensure enough IT expertise • Before narratives are entered, outline, plan, and collect all documentation to support requirement

6. Approaching Compliance • Plan narratives/organize based on 1) the amount and types of documentation 2) a standard format all “writers” follow 3) responses to all sections of Principle • Promptly identify: 1) documentation to be converted to electronic format, 2) documentation/information best presented through database format, 3) any elements college is not doing and begin planning/implementing immediately

7. TSTC Harlingen . . .Show & Tell • Visual design & ease of use is important • Use databases! (Assessment Plans, Program Review reports, policies & procedures, position descriptions, “closing the loop” examples) • Embed references in text…no extraneous documents • Cross-reference between principles • Use pictures to tell your story (labs, library) • Don’t let narrative get tedious for the reader

8. Go to: http://sacs.harlingen.tstc.edu To access the secure system, use the following: username: sacs password: SACScoc2005 (login username and password are case sensitive) Questions: contact Blanca Treviño Bauer at blanca.bauer@harlingen.tstc.edu or 956.364.4050 To access TSTC Harlingen’sreaffirmation documents(Compliance & QEP)

9. The Second Component: The QEP

10. Importance of the QEP QEP Impact on Student Learning Impact on the Institution

11. First Things First • Read carefully the “Handbook for Review Committees” published by SACS • Determine what should be in a QEP • Establish an internal timeline

12. Developing a QEPTSTC West Texas Experience • Highlights (see Chronology Handout) • Assessed the college’s needs through a variety of methods • Focus groups • Surveys • Strategic planning and SWOT analyses

13. Developing a QEP • The Team • Members • Meetings • Student learning in the context of our QEP

14. Review Criteria and the West Texas Experience The Focus • Finding our Focus • Research Information • College Community Input • Business and Industry Surveys and Advisory Committee recommendations • The Executive Summary

15. The Review CriteriaInstitutional Capability…. • Answered the following questions • Who will be responsible? • Do we have the resources to implement and sustain the plan? • Fiscal resources • Expertise (internal and external) • Do we have the support of administration, faculty, staff, and business and industry?

16. The Review CriteriaAssessment • Based on goals and objectives from committees concerning: • Processes • Student learning • Overall plan • Developed narrative • Created chart of process

17. The Review CriteriaDeveloping Broad-based Involvement • Focus Groups, surveys, development activities • Committees • Importance of committee chairs • Number of committees/purpose • Empowering committee members • Retreat • Preparing for the visit

18. Putting It All Together • Lead writer • Editor • Content reviewers/contributors • Final editor • Preparation for the visit • Evaluators • Informing the college community • Scheduling

19. To access TSTC West Texas reaffirmation documents (QEP) Quality Enhancement Plan: http://www.westtexas.tstc.edu/qep Questions: Contact Kathy Kenney at Kathy.Kennedy@sweetwater.tstc.edu or 325.235.7379

20. Final thoughts • Create balance between demands of Compliance Certification and QEP • Communication among ALL is a must • If Accreditation Liaison, know what is happening in all areas (QEP, audits, policies, assessment plans), push Leadership Team members to meet their deadlines • Support from President is key throughout the two years—USE IT!

21. Questions?

22. Thanks for ComingGood Luck with your own SACS journey!