1994-96
Western Carolina University
SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation
Frank Prochaska
Executive Director, UNC Teaching and Learning
with Technology Collaborative
and
Professor of Chemistry
Western Carolina University
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
1994 Reaffirmation Criteria
SACS/Commission on Colleges Criteria for
Accreditation
• 470 “Must” Statements (required for
reaffirmation)
• 350 “Should” Statements (strongly suggested)
• Documentation of Compliance Required for
All “Must” Statements
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
1994 Reaffirmation Criteria
Criteria for Accreditation were Divided into
Six Sections
•
•
•
•
•
•
Principles and Philosophy of Accreditation
Institutional Purpose
Institutional Effectiveness
Educational Program
Educational Support Services
Administrative Processes
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
1994 Reaffirmation Criteria
Institutional Effectiveness
• Planning and Evaluation
• Institutional Research
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
1994 Reaffirmation Process
Steering Committee (17 members) supervised
entire reaffirmation process:
1994-95 Year
• Draft Institutional Self-Study Report Written by 15 Committees
1995-96 Year
•
•
•
•
Editing and Institution-wide Review of Self-Study Report
Self-Study Report sent to Reaffirmation Committee (14 Members)
Campus Visit by Reaffirmation Committee (March 1996)
Report from Reaffirmation Committee received by WCU (May 1996)
Fall 1996
• WCU Submits Response to Reaffirmation Committee Report
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Reaffirmation Committee Final Report
• 34 Recommendations (34 findings of noncompliance)
• 24 Suggestions (suggestions for improvement)
Implementation of recommendations was required.
Institutions could choose whether or not to
implement suggestions.
Western elected to implement all
recommendations and most suggestions.
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Recommendation 4
Planning and Evaluation: Educational Programs
“The Committee recommends that the institution develop
and implement procedures to evaluate the extent to
which educational goals are being achieved, and use the
results of these evaluations to improve educational
programs, services, and operations.”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Recommendation 5
Planning and Evaluation: Administrative and
Educational Support Services
“The Committee recommends that each administrative and
educational support service unit develop and implement
procedures to evaluate the extent to which goals are
being achieved, and use the results of the evaluations to
improve administrative and educational support
services.”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Recommendation 8
Undergraduate Instruction
“The Committee recommends that the University evaluate
the effectiveness of its various instructional programs
using a variety of techniques.”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Recommendation 9
Academic Advising of Undergraduate Students
“The Committee recommends that the University ensure
that the number of advisees assigned to faculty or
professional staff is reasonable.”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Recommendation 10
Graduate Curriculum
“The Committee recommends that combined instruction of
graduate and undergraduate students be structured to
ensure appropriate attention to both groups.”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Recommendation 11
Graduate Curriculum
“The Committee recommends that the institution conduct
frequent systematic evaluations of graduate curricula
offerings and program requirements.”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Recommendation 13
Graduate Instruction
“The Committee recommends that the institution
demonstrate that students completing non-traditional
programs or courses have acquired equivalent levels of
knowledge and competencies to those acquired in
traditional formats.”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Recommendation 14
Graduate Instruction
“The Committee recommends that there be frequent,
systematic evaluation of graduate instruction and
revision of the instructional process based on the
results of this evaluation.”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Recommendation 15
Academic Advising of Graduate Students
“The Committee recommends that the number of graduate
advisees assigned to faculty or professional staff be
reasonable.”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Recommendation 25
Faculty: Criteria and Procedures for Evaluation
“The Committee recommends that the institution
demonstrate that it uses the results of this evaluation for
the improvement of faculty and its educational program.”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Reaffirmation Committee Findings
Recommendation 30
Student Development Services: Scope and
Accountability
“The Committee recommends that the Division of Student
Development develop an assessment plan that reflects
the full scope of activities, services, and programs
necessary to fulfill its mission of service to students.”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04
Final Result
Letter from SACS/COC to Chancellor Bardo dated
January 6, 1997:
“The following action regarding your institution was taken
at the December 1996 meeting of the Commission on
Colleges:
Reaffirmation of accreditation…”
SACS Leadership Retreat
9/23/04