- 8. Institutional
Self-Evaluation Using Commission Standards.
-
The primary portion of a
self study report reviews institutional performance using the
accreditation standards. Each standard is addressed in turn, using
the following three elements:
- Descriptive summary. This
narrative should spring from institutional dialogue and should be
focused on evidence the college has amassed in support of assertions
about what it does to meet Commission standards. The underlying
question regards what the institution has learned/knows about what
it does.
- Self evaluation. The
institution is expected to analyze and systematically evaluate what
it has learned/knows about itself in terms of the standards. The
basic questions have to do with whether or not and to what degree
institutional evidence demonstrates that the institution meets the
standards and how the institution has reached this conclusion. This
analysis should result in actionable conclusions about institutional
effectiveness and capacity, informing decisions for what needs to be
done to improve.
- Planning Agenda. As an
institution describes and evaluates its programs and services with
reference to each standard, it identifies areas in need of change.
This activity yields a planning agenda --- a vehicle for
institutional improvement. For each subsection of the standard, the
institutions should forecast progress it plans to make. The planning
agenda should include the following elements:
- Statements of the
plans, activities, and processes (as opposed to tasks) the
institution expects to implement as a statement of what the
institution thinks it will do.
-
Discussion of the ways
the areas identified in need of improvement will be or have been
incorporated into the ongoing, systematic evaluation and planning
processes of the institution.
-
Discussion of how the
outcomes of these plans, activities and processes are expected to
improve student learning and foster institutional improvement in
general.
- Note: The standards
reference specific Commission policies. The self study report should
address how the college is in compliance with these policies. A list
of these policies will be found in Appendix D. Text of the policies
can be found in the ACCJC’s Handbook of Accreditation and
Policy Manual, Revised Summer 2002.
-
- Appendix D: POLICIES
REFERENCED IN THE STANDARDS
- Policy on Distance
Learning, Including Electronically-Mediated Learning
- Principles of Good
Practice in Overseas International Education Programs for
- Non-U.S. Nationals
- Policy Statement on
Considerations when Closing a Postsecondary Educational Institution
- Joint Policy
Statement on Transfer and Award of Academic Credit
- Contractual
Relationships with Non-Regionally Accredited Organizations
- The Governing Board
- Policy and
Procedures for the Evaluation of Institutions in
Multi-College/Multi-Unit Districts or Systems