Middle States Reaccreditation Process at The Catholic University of America

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Middle States Reaccreditation Process atThe
Catholic University of America
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Comprehensive Design with Selected Emphases from
CUAs Strategic Plan

• Undergraduate Retention
• New Applied Masters Initiatives
• Enhanced Extramural Research Support
• Increased Graduate Student Support

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Purpose of a University Self Study

• Examines the mission and goals of the university
• Examines the educational programs of the
  university
• Examines services and the infrastructure that
  supports the programs
• Determines how well these programs and services
  accomplish the university's goals, fulfills its
  mission and meets the Middle States Commission
  (MSCHE) standards for accreditation
• Produce a written report that serves as the basis
  for evaluation by the MSCHE for accreditation

Adapted from Self Study Creating A Useful
Process and Report (MSCHE, 2007)
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Characteristics of a Good Self Study

• Should be evidence-based
• Should not be too general and defensive
• Recognizes that it has two audiences the
  primary audience is the universitys own
  community the secondary is MSCHE
• Where it identifies weaknesses, it should offer
  specific solutions
• Should be open to identifying new opportunities
• Should be forward-looking

Advances institutional self-understanding and
advancement while presenting evidence for
fulfilling standards for accreditation
Adapted from Self Study Creating A Useful
Process and Report (MSCHE, 2007)
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CUA Task Forces Middle States Standards

• Catholic Identity, Mission, Goals, and Objectives
  
• Standard 1 Mission Goals
• Leadership, Governance and Administration
• Standard 4 Leadership Governance
• Standard 5 Administration
• Institutional Planning, Resources and Renewal
• Work Group A Human Resources, Infrastructure
  Physical Plant
• Work Group B University Finances, Development,
  Capital Funding
• Work Group C Comprehensive Strategic Planning
• Standard 2 Planning, Resource Allocation, and
  Institutional Renewal
• Standard 3 Institutional Resources
• Standard 6 Integrity

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CUA Task Forces Middle States Standards (cont.)

• Student Admissions and Retention
• Standard 8 Student Admissions and Retention
• Faculty Scholarship Research
• Standard 10 Faculty
• Standard 11 Educational Offerings
• Standard 6 Integrity
• Graduate and Professional Education
• Standard 11 Educational Offerings
• Standard 6 Integrity

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CUA Task Forces Middle States Standards (cont.)

• Undergraduate Education
• Standard 11 Educational Offerings
• Standard 12 General Education
• Standard 6 Integrity
• Learning Resources and Student Life
• Standard 9 Student Support Services
• Related Educational Programs Activities
• Standard 13 Related Educational Activities
• Assessment
• Work Group A Institutional Assessment
• Standard 7 Institutional Assessment
• Work Group B Student Learning Assessment
• Standard 14Assessment of Student Learning

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Role of the Committees

• Steering Committee
• Principal administrative body of the self study
• Formulates the charges given to the Task Forces
• Prepares the draft and final copies of the
  self-study report.
• Coordinating Committee
• Facilitates the work of the Steering Committee
  and Task forces
• Provides documentation, research and editing

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Assessment and Self-Study a Continual Process

• Institution-wide comprehensive assessments and
  self-study have traditionally been done to
  prepare for accreditation.
• Making it a continual process, integrating it
  into the CUA culture will improve the university
  and its ability to meet its mission.
• CUA must nurture good assessment practices and
  demonstrate that decisions are based on evidence.
  

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Assessment and Self-Study a Continual Process
(continued)

• The Provosts Office can serve to consolidate
  and coordinate this process.
• The Middle States Accreditation website serves
  as the central repository of assessment and
  self-study data, facilitating the work of the
  Task Forces as well as the MSCHE Accreditation
  Team.
• By informing the university community about the
  progress of the self-study, it will make it a
  transparent process as well as inviting feedback
  to make the self-study more inclusive

The address for the site is http//provost.cua.
edu/msa/
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Key Milestones in the Self-Study Process The
First Months
Construct Dedicated Self-Study Web Site
Prepare Self-Study Design
Select Co-chairs
Constitute Steering Committee and Task Forces
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Key Milestones in the Self-Study
Process Completing the Design of the Self-Study
Mar 2008
Apr 2008
Coordinating Committee collects documentation
Steering and Coordinating committees prepare
self-study design document
Steering Committee formulates charges for Task
Forces
Task Forces devise specific questions for study
and methodology to address questions
Task Forces begin detailed self-study process
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Key Milestones in the Self-Study
Process Conducting the Self-Study
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Key Milestones in the Self-Study
Process Finishing the Self-Study, Preparing for
the Site Visit
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Clarity of Direction for the Task Forces
Steering Committee provides the principal charges
to the Task Force

• This approach provides a clear vision of the
  mission of the Task Forces
• Avoids ambiguity
• Provides direction on how to proceed
• Participation in formulating questions and
  methods gives ownership of the Task Force to
  its members

Task Force meets and devises specific questions
to address the charges
Task Forces then devises specific methodology to
answer the questions