Accreditation Process Begins
Alma’s Self-Study Team Assembling Evidence Prior to November 2009 Visit by Higher Learning Commission Evaluation Team.
A team of Alma College faculty and staff has begun preparations for an
institutional self-study report that will state the case for
re-accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission. Accreditation by
the Commission is required for membership in the North Central
Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
The self-study team consists of Chair Ann Hall, assistant provost;
faculty members Bob Cunningham, Mark Oemke, Carrie Parks-Kirby and
Micheal Vickery; and staff members Dan Henris, controller; Mike
Silverthorn, director of marketing and public relations; and Grant
Woodman, director of campus life. Woodman is sharing a spot on the team
with Carol Gregg, chaplain, who is currently on sabbatical. Provost
Michael Selmon also serves on the self-study team.
The preparation and submission of an institutional self-study report is
a requirement of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) prior to the official
campus visit by an accreditation evaluation team. Alma’s team visit is
scheduled for Nov. 2-4, 2009. The final self-study report must be
submitted by August 2009.
Alma’s self-study team members attended the HLC's annual Self-Study Workshop in Chicago April 11-13, said
Hall.
“The workshop was extremely valuable and helped the team to identify
the framework for a comprehensive self-study that will lead to
re-accreditation,” said Hall. “In addition to assembling evidence that
the College is meeting the five accreditation criteria established by
the Commission, the challenge of the self-study team is to lead the
campus conversations regarding the strengths and challenges we face in
meeting student learning goals and related needs.”
The HLC self-study process affords Alma College the opportunity to
carefully assess institutional progress, said President Saundra Tracy.
"It will provide Alma with important objective feedback from a visiting team of highly qualified peers," said Tracy. "I have no doubt the process will affirm much of what we have done and plan to do and appropriately challenge us in some areas."
All members of the campus community will have an opportunity to
participate in focus group discussions and offer feedback on drafts of
the self-study report. Additional faculty and staff will be asked to
participate in sub-groups focused on each of the Higher Learning
Commission’s five criteria.
The Criteria for Accreditation
The Criteria for Accreditation are organized under five major headings.
An organization must be judged to have met each of the Criteria to
merit accreditation.
Criterion One: Mission and Integrity
The organization operates with integrity to ensure the fulfillment of
its mission through structures and processes that involve the board,
administration, faculty, staff, and students.
Criterion Two: Preparing for the Future
The organization’s allocation of resources and its processes for
evaluation and planning demonstrate its capacity to fulfill its
mission, improve the quality of its education, and respond to future
challenges and opportunities.
Criterion Three: Student Learning and Effective Teaching
The organization provides evidence of student learning and teaching
effectiveness that demonstrates it is fulfilling its educational
mission.
Criterion Four: Acquisition, Discovery, and Application of Knowledge
The organization promotes a life of learning for its faculty,
administration, staff and students by fostering and supporting inquiry,
creativity, practice and social responsibility in ways consistent with
its mission.
Criterion Five: Engagement and Service
As called for by its mission, the organization identifies its constituencies and serves them in ways both value.
Posted: Wed, April 16th, 2008 at 4:03PM
