Transcript Pathways
HLC PATHWAYS
The New Accreditation Model
And the tasks ahead for Drake University
Fall 2012
ACCREDITATION CHANGES
Drake has entered the Open Pathway
in the new HLC accreditation model
Main changes to discuss
• Quality Assurance
• Quality Initiative Project (QIP)
OPEN PATHWAY TO
MAINTAIN ACCREDITATION
•The process and criteria are changing
• Minimum expectations have been added
• Criteria are more prescriptive
OPEN PATHWAY
Ten-year Cycle with Two Major Dimensions
• Assurance reviews
• Annual Institutional Data Update
• Year four – Assurance Argument (no visit) and
• Year ten – Assurance Argument (visit)
• Quality Initiative Project
• Years 5-9
• Project approval at beginning
• Report review at conclusion
Year 10
(AIDU)
(Final
Assurance
Argument)
Drake 2017
Year 9
(AIDU)
(QIP
Report)
Year 1
(AIDU)
Year 2
(AIDU)
HLC
Open
Pathway
Model
Year 8
(AIDU)
(QIP)
Year 3
(AIDU)
Year 4
(AIDU)
(Assurance
Argument)
Drake 2012
Year 7
(AIDU)
(QIP)
Year 6
(AIDU)
(QIP)
Year 5
(AIDU)
(QIP
Proposal)
ASSURANCE REVIEW
Annual Institutional Data Update
•Have been submitting annual data updates for several
years
•HLC analysis can result in requirement of additional
reports or focused visit
ASSURANCE REVIEW
Institutional Review File
Electronic collection of selected documents deposited by
the Commission
Access is given to peer reviewers at time of Assurance
Review
Maintained over entire timeline of HLC Affiliation
Evidence File
Institution uploads own documents and tags to HLC
Criteria and requirements
ASSURANCE REVIEW
Assurance Argument
Replaces Self Study
Institution provides brief (35,000 word
maximum) but thorough analysis of evidence
Makes case that institution meets Criteria and
complies with federal requirements
Links to uploaded evidence
Organized by Criteria and Core Components
QUALITY INITIATIVE
PROJECT
Required for continued accreditation
Proposed, conducted and completed between
years 5 and 9 of the Pathway cycle
Institution should
Aim high
Learn from success or failure
Institution must
Present evidence of commitment and capacity
Present a realistic timeline
QUALITY INITIATIVE PROJECT
Allow institution to take risks -- perhaps fail
Must
Take risks
Have appropriate scope
Strive for significant impact
Reflect sincere, earnest engaged work
Have clear outcomes
QUALITY INITIATIVE PROJECT
OUTCOMES
Judged on
Good faith commitment and
Seriousness of the undertaking
Significance: Scope and impact of work
Genuine commitment and sustained engagement
Adequate resource provision
Consequences of failure may include
Repeat the initiative
Shortened cycle for the next Quality Initiative
Shift to Standard Pathway for the next cycle
QUALITY INITIATIVE
PROJECT:
Design
Institution may
(1) Join Commission-facilitated program such as the
Assessment Academy [We have done this]
(2) Select from a menu of projects
[None seem appropriate]
(3) Design and propose its own initiative
[Drake will take this option]
QUALITY INITIATIVE PROJECT: PIONEER
PROJECT EXAMPLES
• Examine, test, pilot and assess the usefulness of the
Lumina Foundation Degree Qualifications Profile
(Marshall University)
• From strategic plan: Create distinctive coherent
undergraduate learning experiences that integrate
curricular and co-curricular programs, and Expand the
student populations for BGSU enrollment and
implement programs to recruit them and retain them to
successful program completion (Bowling Green State
University)
QUALITY INITIATIVE PROJECT: PIONEER
PROJECT EXAMPLES
• Implement the interdisciplinary alliances created in the
university’s strategic plan –focused on cross-college
interdisciplinary research and teaching (Case Western
Reserve)
DRAKE’S QIP – Design our own
Must be aligned with our strategic plan
Must engage the Drake Community
Must be challenging
Must provide an opportunity to speak
externally about Drake innovation and
improvement
DRAKE’S QIP – Design our own
• Drake’s Strategic Plan 2013-2017 provides
many possibilities for QIPs
• These are goals and projects to which we
already are committed. We must determine
which meet HLC’s expectations for a QIP.
• The President’s cabinet has received some
suggestions. Possible QIPs will be brought to
SAC and to the campus for discussion