https www nwccu org NWCCUSonny Accreditation Purpose Not

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny Accreditation Purpose, Not Process Sonny Ramaswamy

New Economy • Population • Demographic changes • Poverty • Hunger • Health • Sustainability • Global competition • Migration • Conflict • Innovations • Big Data • Robotics • Smart systems • Technology • Automation • Climate change • Shale/Fracking • Resource stewardship • Ecological footprint • Environmentalism • Anti-intellectual • Anti-science https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny

Higher Education in 21 st Century • Internal pressures • • Demographics Student success and learning outomes Student Preparation Budgets Technology Infrastructure Relevance • External pressures • • • Student success Value proposition Shelf life Federal, state, local regulations Political considerations HEA Reauthorization Relevance to national and global economies Demographics Technology, online, MOOCs, MOOSEs Competition Integrity of education systems https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny Context for Accreditation • Reauthorization of Higher Education Act • Negotiated rulemaking • Political environment • Calls for transparency and disaggregated data • Enrollment and financial challenges • Managing change

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny Aligning Efforts • Retention, persistence, and student success academies • Mission fulfillment fellowship • Workshops • Webinars • Networking, best practices, mentoring • Annual conference • Commission staff and other resources • Rethinking purpose

Purpose of Accreditation https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny • Peer evaluative process for assessing educational quality, stability, and sustainability by applying a set of standards, eligibility requirements, and policies • Institutions qualify for Federal Title IV funds and grants and contracts • Institutional reputation States USDE • Purpose BC • Student achievement and success • Accountability • Quality assurance • Continuous improvement Accreditors

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) • Title 34 – Education • Part 602 – The Secretary’s Recognition of Accrediting Agencies • Subpart B - The Criteria for Recognition. Required Operating Policies and Procedures • Metrics • Retention, Graduation, Default rates, Employment NACIQI Accreditors

NWCCU’s Current Mission https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny “The mission of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is to assure educational quality, enhance institutional effectiveness, and foster continuous improvement of colleges and universities in the Northwest region through analytical institutional self-assessment and critical peer review based upon evaluation criteria that are objectively and equitably applied to institutions with diverse missions, characteristics, and cultures. Institutions accredited or preaccredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities are required to examine their own missions, goals, operations, and achievements. It then provides expert analysis by peer evaluators, and, later, commendations for accomplishments and recommendations for improvement from the accrediting body. Since the accreditation status of an institution is reviewed periodically, institutions are encouraged toward continued self-study and improvement. NWCCU fulfills its mission by establishing accreditation criteria and evaluation procedures by which institutions are reviewed. ”

Current NWCCU Standards STANDARD ONE – MISSION & CORE THEMES 1. A Mission 1. A. 1 1. A. 2 1. B Core Themes 1. B. 1 1. B. 2 STANDARD TWO – RESOURCES & CAPACITY 2. A Governance 2. A. 1 2. A. 2 2. A. 3 GOVERNING BOARD 2. A. 4 2. A. 5 2. A. 6 2. A. 7 2. A. 8 LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 2. A. 9 2. A. 10 2. A. 11 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Academics 2. A. 12 2. A. 13 2. A. 14 Students 2. A. 15 2. A. 16 2. A. 17 Human Resources 2. A. 18 2. A. 19 2. A. 20 Institutional Integrity 2. A. 21 2. A. 22 2. A. 23 2. A. 24 2. A. 25 2. A. 26 Academic Freedom 2. A. 27 2. A. 28 2. A. 29 Finance 2. A. 30 2. B Human Resources 2. B. 1 2. B. 2 2. B. 3 2. B. 4 2. B. 5 2. B. 6 2. C Education Resources 2. C. 1 2. C. 2 2. C. 3 2. C. 4 2. C. 5 2. C. 6 2. C. 7 2. C. 8 UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS 2. C. 9 2. C. 10 2. C. 11 GRADUATE PROGRAMS 2. C. 12 2. C. 13 2. C. 14 2. C. 15 CONTINUING EDUCATION & NON-CREDIT PROGRAMS 2. C. 16 2. C. 17 2. C. 18 2. C. 19 2. D Student Support Resources 2. D. 1 2. D. 2 2. D. 3 2. D. 4 2. D. 5 2. D. 6 2. D. 7 2. D. 8 2. D. 9 2. D. 10 2. D. 11 2. D. 12 2. D. 13 2. D. 14 2. E Library and Information Resources 2. E. 1 2. E. 2. 2. E. 3 2. E. 4 2. F Financial Resources 2. F. 1 2. F. 2 2. F. 3 2. F. 4 2. F. 5 2. F. 6 2. F. 7 2. F. 8 2. G PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 2. G. 1 2. G. 2 2. G. 3 2. G. 4 https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 2. G. 5 2. G. 6 2. G. 7 2. G. 8 STANDARD THREE – PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION 3. A Institutional Planning 3. A. 1 3. A. 2 3. A. 3 3. A. 4 3. A. 5 3. B Core Theme Planning 3. B. 1 3. B. 2 3. B. 3 STANDARD FOUR – EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPROVEMENT 4. A Assessment 4. A. 1 4. A. 2 4. A. 3 4. A. 4 4. A. 5 4. A. 6 4. B Improvement 4. B. 1 4. B. 2 STANDARD FIVE – MISSION FULFILLMENT, ADAPTATION, & SUSTAINABILITY 5. A Mission Fulfillment 5. A. 1 5. A. 2 5. B. 1 5. B. 2 5. B. 3

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny A New Path: the Purpose, Notstupid” Process aka “It’s students,

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny Future Focus • Student outcomes-focused • Risk-based • Enhanced engagement and partnership • Reduced institutional burden and costs

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny Themes Student Achievement & Success Risk-Based Accreditation & Alternative Pathways Efficiency & Effectiveness Governance Sustainability Transparency

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny 7 -Year Cycle Risk-Based Accreditation Within-Type Core Measures/Outcomes • Base Goals Self-Study PRFR Evaluation - Institutional Regional Peers National Peers • Aspirational Goals Mid-Cycle Review Commission Decision Annual Reports - Institutional Regional Peers National Peers Expectations Exceeds Meets Below

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny Risk-Based Institutional Engagement • Exceeds Expectations - Self-guided continuous improvement • Meets Expectations - NWCCU-guided continuous improvement - Peer review focused on flags during risk assessment • Below Expectations - Mandatory improvement plan - Review of QUALITY and COMPLIANCE aspects of institution - Coordination with State and Federal regulations

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny Accreditation and Institutional Improvement • Mission fulfillment - Outcomes: Student achievement and success - Costs and indebtedness • Become a learning organization • Institutional critical thinking • Innovation • Programmatic improvements • Effective governance • Improved infrastructure • Improved processes • Continuous improvement

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny A New Mission that Reflects Purpose The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities accredits institutions of higher education by applying evidence-informed standards and processes to support continuous improvements and promote student achievement and success Themes • Student achievement and success • Educational quality • Institutional effectiveness • Continuous improvement • Analytical self-assessment • Critical peer review • Accountability and transparency • Equitability • Research and engagement

Imagine: Standards with Purpose Proposed New Standards USDE Requirements 1. Student success & achievement 2. Curricula 3. Faculty 4. Facilities, equipment, supplies 5. Fiscal & administrative 6. Student support services 7. Recruiting & admissions 8. Program measures 9. Student complaints 10. Title IV Mission Fulfillment (QUALITY) • Themes - Goals - Indicators • Student Success - Core competencies Program learning outcomes Retention Completion Graduation Capacity, Resources, Governance (COMPLIANCE) • Desk and Onsite Review https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny Core Competencies/ General Education 1. Learning how to learn/ metacognition 2. Critical thinking 3. Problem solving 4. Critical literacies 5. Global perspective 6. Integrative learning 7. Quantitative reasoning 8. Digital competencies 9. Ethical responsibility 10. Collaboration 11. Communication skills

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny Accreditation Standards and Eligibility Requirements standard | noun a required or agreed level of quality or attainment Aspirational (eligibility) requirement | noun a thing that is compulsory; a necessary condition Foundational … is a journey, and not a destination

Proposed New Standards STANDARD ONE – INSTITUTIONAL MISSION AND EFFECTIVENESS • • Institutional Mission Institutional Effectiveness Academic Quality Student Achievement STANDARD TWO – GOVERNANCE, RESOURCES, & CAPACITY • • Governance Policies and Procedures Institutional Integrity Financial Resources Human Resources Student Support Resources Library and Information Resources Physical and Technology Infrastructure https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny The Process and Timeline Survey Town Halls & Annual Meeting Sept-Dec 2018 Commission 2 nd Review Additional Public Comment Committee Review & Recommendation Commission Review & Recommendation Public Comment Dec 2018 Jan 2019 Feb-Mar-Apr-May 2019 Commission Decision and Publication Training Implementation Oct-Dec 2019 Jan 2020 Members Vote Jun 2019 Jul 2019 Aug 2019

The Process Annual Report • • • Report Disaggregated Data Student Achievement and Success Financials Ongoing Monitoring of Recommendations • • • https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny Annual submission Staff review Red flags and non-compliant recommendations moved to Commission Meeting agenda Mid-Cycle Report • Report and Onsite Review • Assessment • Planning, Goal Setting, and Aspirations • Onsite peer review in third year • 2 evaluators per visit • Staff review of evaluation reports for Commission Meeting consent agenda Policy Regulations & Finance Review • Desk Review • Financial Performance • Policies and Regulations • Offsite peer review in fifth year • 5 -7 evaluators per season • Non-compliant findings written in a report and forwarded to AQSSE Evaluation Team in Year 7 • Commission Meeting consent agenda Academic Quality and Student Success Evaluation • Report and Onsite Review • Academic Quality • Student Success • • Year 7 onsite peer review 5 -7 evaluators per institution per season Review of red flag and non-compliant findings from PRFR Commission Meeting agenda

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny What We Hope to Accomplish • Develop a relationship with institutions that fosters Continuous Quality Improvement focused on outcomes • Engage faculty and other campus entities to become more fully and meaningfully involved in accreditation • Create a process that inspires achievement of institutional aspirational goals versus a punitive or “Gotcha” process

https: //www. nwccu. org @NWCCUSonny …. think anew, and act anew. - Abraham Lincoln