1

Making the MOST of the Accreditation Team Experience

Jo Allen, Senior Vice President & ProvostWidener University

Based on remarks byPatricia A. McGuire, PresidentTrinity University, Washington

Middle States Workshop for New Team Chairs and Evaluators October 7, 2008

2

SERVING on a Middle States Accreditation Team?…in Five Words or Less!

Intense

Teamwork

Stimulating

Intellectual

Collegial

3

What Do Institutions Expect of Teams & Chairs?

Respect

Collegiality

Fairness and Integrity

“Compassionate Rigor”

Expertise

Thorough Preparation

Consistency

4

Role of the Team Chair

ORGANIZERLogistical details

Team assignments & team report

FACILITATOR/COACHTeam visit strategy

Team member rolesFocus on MSCHE standards

LEADERArbiter of ethics

5

When Team Chairs Go Bad…

Runaway Team

Bully on the Team

Institutional Hide ‘n’ Seek

Scrooge

Terminator

6

Role of An Evaluator

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

7

When Evaluators Go Bad

Too Flexible Too Rigid Too Narrow

Discipline-bound Institution-bound Institution type-bound

Too Arrogant

8

When Good Teams Go Bad, Part 1

The Inspector General Persona and ‘Gotcha!’ Games

“Well, at MY Institution here’s how it’s done….”

“I am the Great Oz and I know what you need to be doing…”

“Let’s slam them on this …”

9

When Good Teams Go Bad, Part 2

“Could you believe that president [provost? faculty member?]??”

“I’ve arranged a small meeting with a few disaffected faculty to hear what’s REALLY going on at this place.”

“Forget the Characteristics, this place is a mess and we need to fix it or shut it down.”

“They’re lying.”

10

Preparing for an InterviewDuring a Team Visit

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.

11

Conducting an Interview During a Team Visit

Set the Context Be friendly. Dialogue, not cross-

examination. 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.

DON’T Lecture interviewees Monologue your

opinions. Offer prescriptions.

12

Resources for Team Support

Middle States Documents Middle States Staff Experienced Evaluators Team Chair

13

Some Reminders on Ethics 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.

14

One Last Thing on Ethics….

…There are no job opportunities for you at this school..

15

Some Reminders on Attitude 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.

16

Questions?

Comments?

Concerns?