Higher Learning Commission Reaccreditation under Pathways Regional Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission: Reaccreditation under Pathways

Regional Accreditation • North Central-Higher Learning Commission • 10 years • Self-study – 2 years to produce – Hundreds of pages – Resource Room • New methodology – Open Pathway

Open Pathway • Two components – Quality Initiative

Quality Initiative • Original proposal identified two areas • Consultants visited Mar. 2010 • Expand the student populations for BGSU enrollment and implement programs to recruit them and retain them to successful degree completion. – The Learning Commons – Summer course offerings

Open Pathway • Two components – Quality Initiative – Assurance Document

Assurance Document • Replaces the self study • Moved to an online process • Requires answering a series of prompts to address five major criteria • New criteria

Criteria • Mission • Integrity: Ethical & Responsible Conduct • Teaching & Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support • Teaching & Learning: Evaluation and Improvement • Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness

Assurance Document • 35, 000 words total • Only 15 user accounts (3 system) • All documents uploaded

Open Pathway • Two components – Quality Initiative – Assurance Document • Compliance with Federal regulations

Federal Compliance Credits, program length and tuition* Student complaint process Transfer policies Verify student identities (distance)* Title IV information* Institutional Disclosures on Advertising/Recruitment Materials* • Relationships with other Accrediting Agencies* • Public Notice of Evaluation Visit • • •

Title IV Information • • General programs findings Financial Responsibilities requirements Student loan default rates Campus Crime information Student Right to Know Satisfactory Progress/Attendance Policies Contractual relationships Consortial relationships

Open Pathway • Two components – Quality Initiative – Assurance Document • Compliance with Federal regulations • Site Visit

Site Visit • Before ~15 people Multiple days Preliminary findings • Now ~6 people 1. 5 days No preliminary findings

BGSU Team • Mission – Joe Frizado • Integrity – Pat Pauken • Teaching & Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support – Simon Morgan-Russell • Teaching & Learning: Evaluation and Improvement - Sue Houston • Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness – Mel Hudson-Nowak

General Timeline • • • Writing Teams staffed before May 1 Writing Teams complete first draft by Sept. 15 Technical editing begins BGSU General Review begins Oct. 15 Second round of editing/updates Final version is submitted by Mar. 15, 2013

Summary • • Quality Initiative – Aug. 31, 2012 Assurance File – Mar. 15, 2013 Compliance Document – Mar. 15, 2013 HLC Campus Visit – April 15, 2013