Linfield CollegeLinfield CollegeAccreditation OverviewAccreditation Overview

Steering Committee MeetingSteering Committee MeetingAugust 22, 2006August 22, 2006

AccreditationAccreditation

Regional accreditation is a voluntary non-Regional accreditation is a voluntary non-governmental peer review mission-driven governmental peer review mission-driven process that assures educational quality and process that assures educational quality and encourages purposeful institutional encourages purposeful institutional improvement through regular analytic improvement through regular analytic examination of intentions, actions, and examination of intentions, actions, and achievements in light of institutional achievements in light of institutional characteristics, standards of the academic characteristics, standards of the academic community, and expectations of the public.community, and expectations of the public.

“Assessment is not a pretty word…

it sounds a little like a snake living in the basement of your home.”

Mary Brau, Lane Community College

What does accreditation seek to assure?What does accreditation seek to assure?

•IntentionsIntentions: : The institution has clearly defined and The institution has clearly defined and appropriate educational objectives.appropriate educational objectives.

•CapacityCapacity: : The institution has conditions under which its The institution has conditions under which its objectives can reasonably be achieved.objectives can reasonably be achieved.

•FulfillmentFulfillment: : The institution is substantially achieving its The institution is substantially achieving its mission and objectives.mission and objectives.

•SustainabilitySustainability: : The institution is organized, staffed, and The institution is organized, staffed, and supported to continue to do so.supported to continue to do so.

DeterminationsDeterminations

Judgments of quality and effectiveness are Judgments of quality and effectiveness are based on the accreditation criteria and based on the accreditation criteria and evaluated in terms of:evaluated in terms of:

Institutional mission and characteristics;Institutional mission and characteristics;

Achievement of intended outcomes; andAchievement of intended outcomes; and

Expectations of peers and the public.Expectations of peers and the public.

CriteriaCriteria

Agreed upon by member institutionsAgreed upon by member institutions

Framework of qualitative non-prescriptive Framework of qualitative non-prescriptive conditions and principlesconditions and principles

Honor diversity of institutionsHonor diversity of institutions

Require evidence to support claimsRequire evidence to support claims

Encourage institutional improvementEncourage institutional improvement

StandardsStandardsOneOne Institutional MissionInstitutional Mission and and Goals, Planning Goals, Planning and and

EffectivenessEffectiveness

TwoTwo Educational ProgramEducational Program and and Its EffectivenessIts Effectiveness

ThreeThree StudentsStudents

FourFour FacultyFaculty

FiveFive LibraryLibrary and and Information ResourcesInformation Resources

SixSix GovernanceGovernance and and AdministrationAdministration

SevenSeven FinanceFinance

EightEight Physical ResourcesPhysical Resources

NineNine Institutional IntegrityInstitutional Integrity

To be most effective during the processTo be most effective during the process

Culture-sensitive designCulture-sensitive design

InclusiveInclusive

Internally motivatedInternally motivated

Integrated with institutional initiativesIntegrated with institutional initiatives

Evaluates intentions Evaluates intentions andand achievements achievements

Analytic, data driven, evidence basedAnalytic, data driven, evidence based

Results inform and improve practiceResults inform and improve practice

Data you need (part 1)Data you need (part 1)

For each Commission standard:For each Commission standard: Do we comply?Do we comply? What evidence do we have to show What evidence do we have to show

compliance?compliance? If we don’t have evidence, how will If we don’t have evidence, how will

we get it?we get it? If we don’t comply, what is our plan If we don’t comply, what is our plan

to comply?to comply?

Data you need (part 2)Data you need (part 2)

Institutional level performanceInstitutional level performance

College/department level College/department level performanceperformance

Program level outcomesProgram level outcomes

Course level outcomesCourse level outcomes

Control TriangleControl Triangle

Quality

Cost Time

You can control any two, the other will adjust.

An accredited institution . . .An accredited institution . . .

Has a clearly stated mission, goalsHas a clearly stated mission, goals Appears to be achieving its goalsAppears to be achieving its goals Studies itself systematicallyStudies itself systematically Appears to meet the Commission’s Appears to meet the Commission’s

standardsstandards Appears to have necessary resourcesAppears to have necessary resources

Guiding QuestionsGuiding Questions

Who are we?Who are we? (Values)(Values) What do we claim to do?What do we claim to do? (Mission)(Mission) How are we going to do it?How are we going to do it? (Planning)(Planning) Are we doing it?Are we doing it? (Integrity)(Integrity) How well are we doing it?How well are we doing it? (Effectiveness)(Effectiveness) How do we know?How do we know? (Assessment)(Assessment) What data do we collect?What data do we collect? (Evidence)(Evidence) What do the data tell us?What do the data tell us? (Analysis)(Analysis) How do we use the results?How do we use the results? (Improvement)(Improvement)

““Mountains of data that never get Mountains of data that never get digested or used to improve digested or used to improve

programs represent a programs represent a monumental waste of faculty/staff monumental waste of faculty/staff

energy and good will.”energy and good will.”

Task Force on Assessment, Willamette U.Task Force on Assessment, Willamette U.