Accreditation and Reaffirmation of Accreditation: An Overview

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Accreditation and Reaffirmation of Accreditation
An Overview

• David S. Adegboye, Ph.D.
• Professor of Biology
• Associate Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs
• SACS Liaison Officer

Presented at the Faculty Conference Fall
Semester 2006
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INTRODUCTION

• Accreditation signifies that an institution
• has a purpose appropriate to higher education
  and has resources, programs, and services
  sufficient to accomplish and sustain that
  purpose.
• Indicates that an institution maintains clearly
• specified educational objectives that are
  consistent with its mission and appropriate to
  the degrees it offers.

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• Participation is voluntary but highly
  desirable - and is an earned and renewable
  status
• Enhances academic quality in a region by
  improving the effectiveness of institutions and
  ensuring that institutions meet standards
  established by the higher education community
• Requires an institutional commitment to student
  learning and achievement
• Our accrediting agency is the Commission on
  Colleges (COC), Southern Association of
  Colleges and Schools (SACS), based in Atlanta,
  GA

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• The Commissions first task is to determine the
  institutions INTEGRITY and COMMITMENT TO QUALITY
  ENHANCEMENT.
• The specifics of the Process of Accreditation
  will be discussed at a university-wide workshop
  planned for later in the semester.

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CHALLENGES

• Four (4) major challenges are recognized at SUNO
  as far as Accreditation or Reaffirmation of
  Accreditation issues are concerned

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CHALLENGES

• 1. Accreditation
• College of Business The Association to Advance
  Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  International
• By Year 2010 2011.

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• 2. Reaffirmation of Accreditation
• University-wide Southern Association of Schools
  Colleges (SACS)
• By 2009 2010.
• College of Education National Council for the
  Accreditation of Teachers Education (NCATE)
• By 2008 - 2009
• School of Social Work Council of Social Work
  Education (CSWE)
• By 2011 2012.

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• 3. Changes in Academic Programs
• New Programs
• BA Public Administration (CB)
• BS Health Information Management System (CAS)
• BA Child Development Family Studies
• (CE) or (CAS)

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• Conversion Programs
• BS Computer Information System to BS Management
  Information System (CB)
• MS Computer Information System to MS Management
  information System (CB)
• BS Business Administration to BS Business
  Entrepreneurship (CB)
• M.A. Urban Education to M.Ed. Curriculum and
  Instruction with concentrations in Early
  Childhood Development and Elementary Education
  (CE).

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• On-line Degree Programs
• BS General Studies
• BS Criminal Justice
• BS Early Childhood Education
• MA Museum Studies

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4. Documentation

• If you didnt document it, it didnt happen
• Central to any preparation for accreditation or
  reaffirmation of accreditation
• Vital documents were destroyed in the Office of
  Academic Affairs following Katrina hurricane
• -faculty profiles transcripts, resumes, records
  of service
• -college offices
• -departmental offices
• -individual offices
• Challenges of re-assembly and storage

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STRATEGIESSpring Summer 2006

• Courtesy Visits
• Dr. Mike Ralph and Dr. Roberta Kramer of SUBR
• -general overview
• -major documents provided
• Mr. Gerard Killebrew, LA BoR
• -program changes
• Drs. Wheelan, Jackson, Collins, SACS Office,
  Atlanta, GA
• -substantive change policy
• -program phase-out policy

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• Response to SACS and SUS Requests
• Progress Reports
• Principles of Accreditation Update
• Program Evaluator Update
• Bills
• Conference Calls

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 1. Established a 15-member Leadership Team
• 2. Revised Periodic Review Schedule Format
• 2006 07
• 2007 08
• 3. Modified the Format for Periodic Review
  Reports
• 4. Obtained the approval of NCATE Visit Extension
  to 2008-09

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• 5. Obtained the approval of all program changes
  -- SUNO Curriculum Committee
• 6. Obtained approval of the SUS Board of
  Supervisors for the on-line programs Program
  Proposals
• 7. Developed Substantive Change Prospectus for
  
• BS General Studies
• BS Criminal Justice
• MA Museum Studies
• BA Early Childhood Education
• Approved by SACS

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• 8. Developed Program Proposals for two (2) new
  programs and three (3) conversion programs
• BS Management Information Systems
• MS Management Information Systems
• BS Business Entrepreneurship
• BA Public Administration
• Approved by LA Board of Regents
• Revised Final Draft of the BS Health Information
  Management Program submitted to LA Board of
  Regents

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• 9. Submitted SACS Progress Report to SUS as
  requested includes Task Timeline Schedule
  for the SUNO, NCATE, CSWE reaffirmation the
  AACSB accreditation
• 10. Responded to all correspondence from SACS
  Office
• 11. Deans appointed for the College of Education
  and School of Social Work
• 12. Financial Profile and Indicator submitted to
  SACS Office July 2006
• 13. Annual General Meeting in Orlando, FL --
  Registration process completed

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Tasks for Fall 2006

1. Revision of Program Proposal for the M.Ed degree
   in Curriculum and Instruction
2. Decision on which college should house the BS
   Human Development Family Studies Program
3. SACS Annual General Meeting Dec. 2006
4. Appointment of Sub Committees within the SACS
   Steering Committee
5. Re-assembly of vital documents transcripts,
   resume, syllabus, library materials equipment
6. Back-up Storage Systems for documents
7. University-wide workshop on Preparing for
   Reaffirmation of Accreditation

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CONCLUSION

• SUNO tasks are compounded by the program changes
  requested by the BoR. Program proposals had to
  be written with mandatory inputs by external
  consultants. Nevertheless, all requirements for
  accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation
  are recognized, and task timelines have been
  drawn up.
• We have the competence, determination and the
  hard work to follow the timelines.
• I will continue to value the support of the
  administration, faculty, staff, and students.
• If you have comments or questions please stop
  by my office, Bldg. 22-B

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1. Leadership Team Members
2. Coordinators of Accreditation for Colleges
3. Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs
4. Chancellor