Accreditation Liaison
Officers (ALOs)
MSCHE Annual Conference
December 2011
Robert A. Schneider
Senior Vice President
Who is the ALO?
The primary contact with MSCHE staff
 A resource to the institution on
accreditation issues
 Someone with time, knowledge and
authority to engage with president and
others on campus on accreditation
 Not the president and not a consultant
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ALO roles and responsibilities
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For Commission guidelines see:
The Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) Role and
Responsibilities
http://www.msche.org/documents/6B---5-ALO-guidelines-122109.pdf
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For resources see:
ALO Orientation e-Packet
http://www.msche.org/publications/ALO-Orientation-ePacket11.pdf
What does an ALO need to know?
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Commission Schedule
Accreditation Events and Cycles
Annual Reporting Requirement (IP)
Follow-Up Reporting Requirements
Handbooks contents
Policies, Guidelines & Procedures
MSCHE Website Contents
ALO Newsletter
Workshops, Institutes, Conferences
Commission Meetings
Full Commission meets early March, late
June, and mid-November
 Takes action on recommendations
following from Self-Study Evaluations,
Periodic Review Reports, Follow-up
Reports and Visits
 Actions communicated within 30 days of
meetings
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Commission Schedule
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Committee meetings
– Self-Study Evaluations: 3 x year
– Periodic Review Reports: 4-5 x year (October)
– Follow-up Reports: 3 x year
– Substantive Change Requests: every other
month (February, April, etc.) with deadline the
first of the month before (January, March)
Accreditation Events and Cycles
Self-study evaluation and visit: every ten
years (except newly accredited: five years
after first accreditation)
 Periodic Review Report: five-year interim
report between self-studies: always due
June 1
 Annual Institutional Profile: due in April of
each year
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Annual Institutional Profile
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Offers evaluation teams and staff
a snapshot of an institution's structure,
operations, finances, and accreditation
status;
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Enables staff to monitor an individual
institution's compliance with selected
aspects of accreditation standards;
Annual Institutional Profile
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Updates the on-line member Directory of
member and candidate institutions and
the Statement of Accreditation Status;
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Provides the Commission with a basis for
assessing dues; and
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Assists staff in developing region-wide
aggregate data.
Annual Institutional Profile
http://www.msche.org/?Nav1=INSTITUTIONS&Na
v2=IP&Nav3=INTRODUCTION
Follow-up Reports
Can be requested as result of self-study
evaluation, periodic review report, or
previous follow-up report
 Progress report
 Monitoring report
 Supplemental report
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Follow-up Reports
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See Guidelines: Follow-Up Reports and Visits
http://www.msche.org/documents/6B---4-Follow-upreports-and-visits-guidelines-122109.pdf
Know your handbooks!!
Characteristics of Excellence in Higher
Education: Requirements of Affiliation and
Standards for Accreditation
 Handbook for Periodic Review Reports
 Self-Study: Creating a Useful Process and
Report
 Team Visits: Conducting and Hosting an
Evaluation Visit
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Handbooks
All available on our website,
http://www.msche.org/publications.asp
 Can also be ordered at the website
http://www.msche.org/myche/public/publi
cations/publicationorderform.aspx
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Handbooks
Check handbooks for
information prior to
contacting the
Commission staff with
questions
 Self-studies are to be
100 pp single-spaced,
200 pp double-spaced
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Policies (categories)
General Accreditation Policies, Guidelines,
and Procedures
 The Peer Review Process
 Institutional Programs and Services
 Public and Government Relationships and
Communication
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Policies (categories)
International Programs
 Commission Administrative Procedures
 Complaints, Comments, and Appeals
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Policies
See Policies, Guidelines & Procedures index:
http://www.msche.org/?Nav1=POLICIES&Nav2=INDEX
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Policies of special note
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Substantive Change Policy:
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Substantive Change Processes:
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Substantive Change Visits to Branch
Campuses and Additional Locations:
http://www.msche.org/documents/6B---6SubstantiveChange_4_.pdf
http://www.msche.org/documents/SubstantiveChange-Processes-New-Version-January2011.pdf
http://www.msche.org/documents/P2.8SubChangeVisits.doc
Policies of Special Note
Schedule of Dues and Fees:
http://www.msche.org/documents/P1.8Dues4111[1].doc
 Selection of Peer Evaluators:
http://www.msche.org/documents/6B---3Selection-of-Peer-Evaluator-guidelines122109.pdf
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Policies of Special Note
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Contracts by Accredited and Candidate
Institutions
For Education-Related Services:
http://www.msche.org/documents/P3.2ContractsforServices[1].doc
Special note regarding policies
They change!
 Be sure to check the website for most up-todate
 Changes due to HEOA, etc.
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MSCHE website
www.msche.org
Institutions
 Alpha order: all candidate and accredited
institutions
 Basic directory information, institutional
website link, date of accreditation and
latest reaffirmation
 Statement of Accreditation Status and
Detail View
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ALO Newsletter
MSCHE ALO Newsletter is published five
times each year: Early Fall, Early Winter,
Winter, Spring, and Summer.
 ALO Newsletters are also archived on our
website:
http://www.msche.org/news_newsletter.asp
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MSCHE events
Self-Study Institute (invitation)
 Periodic Review Report Workshop
(invitation)
 Chairs and Evaluators Workshop
(invitation)
 Annual conference
 Assessment Workshops
 Planning and Assessment Workshops
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Final tips
Check the website regularly
 Check with the president’s office upon
receipt of MSCHE communications to
make sure they receive prompt attention
 Keep up with due dates for reports
 Communicate with constituencies as
needed
 Get to know your Commission liaison!
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