Understanding MSCHE Expectations for Governance

1. Understanding MSCHE Expectations for Governance Ellie A. Fogarty, Vice President Middle States Commission on Higher Education 2010 Annual Conference Philadelphia, PA

2. Expectations & Standards • Requirements of Affiliation • Standard 1 – Mission & Goals • Standard 4 – Leadership & Governance • Standard 6 – Integrity • Standard 10 – Faculty • Certifications of Compliance for Self Study and Periodic Review Report • Ongoing Responsibilities Middle States Commission on Higher Education

3. Requirements of Affiliation • Requirement 9: • “The institution’s governing body is responsible for the quality and integrity of the institution and for ensuring that the institution’s mission is being carried out. It is prepared to declare, in writing, that the institution will make freely available to the Commission accurate, fair, and complete information on all aspects of the institution and its operations.” Middle States Commission on Higher Education

4. Standard 1: Mission and Goals • “…The mission and goals are developed and recognized by the institution with the participation of its members and its governing body…” • “The mission, developed by broad representation from all sectors of the institution and formally ratified by its primary governing body…” Middle States Commission on Higher Education

5. Standard 4: Leadership & Governance • “The institution’s system of governance clearly defines the roles of institutional constituencies in policy development and decision-making. The governance structure includes an active governing body with sufficient autonomy to assure institutional integrity and to fulfill its responsibilities of policy and resource development, consistent with the mission of the institution.” Middle States Commission on Higher Education

6. Standard 6: Integrity • “equitable and appropriately consistent treatment of constituencies, as evident in such areas as the application of academic requirements and policies, student discipline, student evaluation, grievance procedures, faculty promotion, tenure, retention and compensation, administrative review, curricular improvement, and institutional governance and management” Middle States Commission on Higher Education

7. Standard 10: Faculty • “Faculty participation in institutional planning, curriculum review, and other governance roles can be an appropriate recognition of their professional competence and commitment, where consistent with institutional governance structures. Such participation should complement the faculty’s primary responsibilities for teaching, research, and scholarship.” Middle States Commission on Higher Education

8. Certification Statement: Compliance with MSCHE Requirements of Affiliation and Federal Title IV Requirements The undersigned hereby certify that the institution meets all established requirements of affiliation of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and federal requirements relating to Title IV program participation, including relevant requirements under the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 such as those on distance education and transfer of credit, and that it has complied with the MSCHE policy, “Related Entities.” Middle States Commission on Higher Education

9. Ongoing Responsibilities • Importance of an Involved and Autonomous Board • Value of a Well-defined System of Collegial Governance • Role of the Board with a Related Entity Middle States Commission on Higher Education

10. Resources • Governing Boards: Understanding the Expectations of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education • http://www.msche.org/publications/Governing-Boards-FINAL.pdf • AGB-CHEA Joint Advisory Statement on Accreditation & Governing Boards • http://www.chea.org/pdf/AGB_CHEA_Statement.pdf Middle States Commission on Higher Education

11. Questions? Middle States Commission on Higher Education