1994-96 Western Carolina University SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation

1. 1994-96 Western Carolina University SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation Frank Prochaska Executive Director, UNC Teaching and Learning with Technology Collaborative and Professor of Chemistry Western Carolina University SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

2. 1994 Reaffirmation Criteria • SACS/Commission on Colleges Criteria for Accreditation • 470 “Must” Statements (required for reaffirmation) • 350 “Should” Statements (strongly suggested) • Documentation of Compliance Required for All “Must” Statements SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

3. 1994 Reaffirmation Criteria • Criteria for Accreditation were Divided into Six Sections • Principles and Philosophy of Accreditation • Institutional Purpose • Institutional Effectiveness • Educational Program • Educational Support Services • Administrative Processes SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

4. 1994 Reaffirmation Criteria • Institutional Effectiveness • Planning and Evaluation • Institutional Research SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

5. 1994 Reaffirmation Process • Steering Committee (17 members) supervised entire reaffirmation process: • 1994-95 Year • Draft Institutional Self-Study Report Written by 15 Committees • 1995-96 Year • Editing and Institution-wide Review of Self-Study Report • Self-Study Report sent to Reaffirmation Committee (14 Members) • Campus Visit by Reaffirmation Committee (March 1996) • Report from Reaffirmation Committee received by WCU (May 1996) • Fall 1996 • WCU Submits Response to Reaffirmation Committee Report SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

6. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Reaffirmation Committee Final Report • 34 Recommendations (34 findings of noncompliance) • 24 Suggestions (suggestions for improvement) • Implementation of recommendations was required. • Institutions could choose whether or not to implement suggestions. • Western elected to implement all recommendations and most suggestions. SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

7. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Recommendation 4 • Planning and Evaluation: Educational Programs • “The Committee recommends that the institution develop and implement procedures to evaluate the extent to which educational goals are being achieved, and use the results of these evaluations to improve educational programs, services, and operations.” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

8. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Recommendation 5 • Planning and Evaluation: Administrative and Educational Support Services • “The Committee recommends that each administrative and educational support service unit develop and implement procedures to evaluate the extent to which goals are being achieved, and use the results of the evaluations to improve administrative and educational support services.” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

9. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Recommendation 8 • Undergraduate Instruction • “The Committee recommends that the University evaluate the effectiveness of its various instructional programs using a variety of techniques.” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

10. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Recommendation 9 • Academic Advising of Undergraduate Students • “The Committee recommends that the University ensure that the number of advisees assigned to faculty or professional staff is reasonable.” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

11. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Recommendation 10 • Graduate Curriculum • “The Committee recommends that combined instruction of graduate and undergraduate students be structured to ensure appropriate attention to both groups.” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

12. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Recommendation 11 • Graduate Curriculum • “The Committee recommends that the institution conduct frequent systematic evaluations of graduate curricula offerings and program requirements.” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

13. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Recommendation 13 • Graduate Instruction • “The Committee recommends that the institution demonstrate that students completing non-traditional programs or courses have acquired equivalent levels of knowledge and competencies to those acquired in traditional formats.” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

14. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Recommendation 14 • Graduate Instruction • “The Committee recommends that there be frequent, systematic evaluation of graduate instruction and revision of the instructional process based on the results of this evaluation.” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

15. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Recommendation 15 • Academic Advising of Graduate Students • “The Committee recommends that the number of graduate advisees assigned to faculty or professional staff be reasonable.” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

16. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Recommendation 25 • Faculty: Criteria and Procedures for Evaluation • “The Committee recommends that the institution demonstrate that it uses the results of this evaluation for the improvement of faculty and its educational program.” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

17. Reaffirmation Committee Findings • Recommendation 30 • Student Development Services: Scope and Accountability • “The Committee recommends that the Division of Student Development develop an assessment plan that reflects the full scope of activities, services, and programs necessary to fulfill its mission of service to students.” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04

18. Final Result • Letter from SACS/COC to Chancellor Bardo dated January 6, 1997: • “The following action regarding your institution was taken at the December 1996 meeting of the Commission on Colleges: Reaffirmation of accreditation…” SACS Leadership Retreat 9/23/04