Transcript Surviving Reaffirmation: Two TSTC Approaches to Compliance

Surviving Reaffirmation:
Two TSTC Approaches to Compliance
& the QEP
Texas Association for Institutional Research
27th Annual Conference
February 23, 2005
Presented by
Kathy Kennedy
Blanca Treviño Bauer
Manager-ORPA
Director-IER
SACS Accreditation Liaison
SACS Accreditation Liaison
www.westtexas.tstc.edu
www.harlingen.tstc.edu
www.tstc.edu
Texas State Technical College
Two Essential Components of
Reaffirmation
• Compliance Certification
• Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
The First Component:
The Compliance Certification
www.westtexas.tstc.edu
www.harlingen.tstc.edu
www.tstc.edu
Texas State Technical College
TSTC Harlingen’s Story…
• Reviewed work of pilot institution’s
• Selected SACS Leadership Team (SLT)
• SLT assigned Principles based on
expertise/area of responsibility
• Established aggressive timelines
• Narratives completed by Dec. ’03, BUT
format of all later changed
• Little attention paid to QEP
development
Texas State Technical College
Approaching Compliance:
• Select a Leadership Team with
authority
• Set aggressive timeline based on
complexity of each Principle
• Ensure enough IT expertise
• Before narratives are entered, outline,
plan, and collect all documentation to
support requirement
Texas State Technical College
Approaching Compliance
• Plan narratives/organize based on
1) the amount and types of documentation
2) a standard format all “writers” follow
3) responses to all sections of Principle
• Promptly identify:
1) documentation to be converted to
electronic format,
2) documentation/information best
presented through database format,
3) any elements college is not doing and
begin planning/implementing immediately
Texas State Technical College
TSTC Harlingen . . .Show & Tell
• Visual design & ease of use is important
• Use databases! (Assessment Plans, Program
Review reports, policies & procedures,
position descriptions, “closing the loop”
examples)
• Embed references in text…no extraneous
documents
• Cross-reference between principles
• Use pictures to tell your story (labs, library)
• Don’t let narrative get tedious for the reader
Texas State Technical College
To access TSTC Harlingen’s
reaffirmation documents
(Compliance & QEP)
Go to:
http://sacs.harlingen.tstc.edu
To access the secure system, use the following:
username: sacs
password: SACScoc2005
(login username and password are case sensitive)
Questions: contact Blanca Treviño Bauer at
[email protected] or 956.364.4050
The Second Component:
The QEP
www.westtexas.tstc.edu
www.harlingen.tstc.edu
www.tstc.edu
Texas State Technical College
Importance of the QEP
QEP
Impact on Student Learning
Impact on the Institution
Texas State Technical College
First Things First
• Read carefully the “Handbook for
Review Committees” published by
SACS
• Determine what should be in a QEP
• Establish an internal timeline
Texas State Technical College
Developing a QEP
TSTC West Texas Experience
• Highlights (see Chronology Handout)
– Assessed the college’s needs
through a variety of methods
• Focus groups
• Surveys
• Strategic planning and SWOT analyses
Texas State Technical College
Developing a QEP
• The Team
• Members
• Meetings
• Student learning in the context
of our QEP
Texas State Technical College
Review Criteria and the West
Texas Experience
The Focus
1. Finding our Focus
•
•
•
Research Information
College Community Input
Business and Industry Surveys and
Advisory Committee recommendations
2. The Executive Summary
Texas State Technical College
The Review Criteria
Institutional Capability….
• Answered the following questions
– Who will be responsible?
– Do we have the resources to implement
and sustain the plan?
• Fiscal resources
• Expertise (internal and external)
– Do we have the support of administration,
faculty, staff, and business and industry?
Texas State Technical College
The Review Criteria
Assessment
• Based on goals and objectives from
committees concerning:
– Processes
– Student learning
– Overall plan
• Developed narrative
• Created chart of process
Texas State Technical College
The Review Criteria
Developing Broad-based
Involvement
• Focus Groups, surveys, development
activities
• Committees
– Importance of committee chairs
– Number of committees/purpose
– Empowering committee members
– Retreat
• Preparing for the visit
Texas State Technical College
Putting It All Together
•
•
•
•
•
Lead writer
Editor
Content reviewers/contributors
Final editor
Preparation for the visit
– Evaluators
– Informing the college community
– Scheduling
Texas State Technical College
To access TSTC West Texas reaffirmation
documents
(QEP)
Quality Enhancement Plan:
http://www.westtexas.tstc.edu/qep
Questions: Contact Kathy Kenney at
[email protected] or
325.235.7379
Texas State Technical College
Final thoughts
• Create balance between demands of
Compliance Certification and QEP
• Communication among ALL is a must
• If Accreditation Liaison, know what is
happening in all areas (QEP, audits,
policies, assessment plans), push
Leadership Team members to meet their
deadlines
• Support from President is key throughout
the two years—USE IT!
Texas State Technical College
Questions?
Texas State Technical College
Thanks for Coming
Good Luck with your own
SACS journey!