Middle States Workshop
for New Team Chairs and Evaluators
October 2010
Making the MOST
of the Accreditation Team Experience
Jo Allen, Senior Vice President & Provost
Widener University
Based on remarks by
Patricia A. McGuire, President
Trinity University, Washington
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SERVING on a Middle States Accreditation Team?
…in Five Words or Less!
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Intense
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Teamwork
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Stimulating
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Intellectual
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Collegial
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What Do Institutions Expect of Teams & Chairs?
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Respect
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Collegiality
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Fairness and Integrity
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“Compassionate Rigor”
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Expertise
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Thorough Preparation
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Consistency
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Role of the Team Chair
LEADER
Arbiter of ethics
FACILITATOR/COACH
Team visit strategy
Team member roles
Focus on MSCHE standards
ORGANIZER
Logistical details
Team assignments & team report
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When Team Chairs Go Bad…
 Runaway Team
 Bully on the Team
 Institutional Hide ‘n’ Seek
 Scrooge
 Terminator
 Disengaged
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Role of An Evaluator
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Be prepared
 Know Middle States standards
 Analyze and question the Self-Study
 Understand the Institutional Mission & Goals
Remember the “peer” in “peer review”
Cooperate and be collegial
Root comments in Middle States standards.
DON’T…
 Compare this institution to yours
 Make prescriptive pronouncements
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When Evaluators Go Bad
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Too Flexible
Too Rigid
Too Narrow
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Discipline-bound
Institution-bound
Institution type-bound
Too Arrogant
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When Good Teams Go Bad, Part 1

The Inspector General Persona and ‘Gotcha!’ Games
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“Well, at MY Institution here’s how it’s done….”
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“I am the Great Oz and I know what you need to be
doing…”
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“Let’s slam them on this …”
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When Good Teams Go Bad, Part 2
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“Could you believe that president [provost? faculty
member?]??”
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“I’ve arranged a small meeting with a few
disaffected faculty to hear what’s REALLY going on
at this place.”
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“Forget the Characteristics, this place is a mess and
we need to fix it or shut it down.”
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“They’re lying.”
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Preparing for an Interview during a Team Visit

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Prepare …
 To test and illuminate the self-study.
 To substantiate your thorough knowledge of the
self-study and institutional materials.
 To identify potential interviews.
Develop Interview Objectives and Questions …
 To know the objectives of the interview
 To relate questions to the self-study and
accreditation criteria.
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Conducting an Interview During a Team Visit

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Set the Context
 Be friendly
 Dialogue, not crossexamination
 Explain interview
purpose and topics
 Set a time limit
Listen and Learn
 Test assertions
constructively
 Push for analysis by
interviewees

Take Careful Notes
 Get names and
positions of
interviewees
 Re-check your facts!
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DON’T…
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Lecture interviewees
Monologue your
opinions
Offer prescriptions
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Resources for Team Support
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Middle States Documents
Middle States Staff
Experienced Evaluators
Team Chair
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Some Reminders on Ethics
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Leave your biases at
home.
Reveal any conflicts of
interest before the visit.
Respect the privacy
and reputation of the
institution.
Pay for bar drinks,
movies, and personal
phone bills personally.
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One Last Thing on Ethics….
…There are no job
opportunities
for you at this
school..
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Some Reminders on Attitude
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Keep your sense of humor
apparent, but mild.
Do not be dour, or angry,
or difficult.
If you hate the experience,
do not volunteer for this
gig again.
If you love the experience,
definitely sign up again.
Be open to learning new
things you didn’t
anticipate.
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Questions? Comments? Concerns?
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