Accreditation Update: Preparation for External Evaluation Team Visit and ACCJC Request for Additional Information Erik Shearer and Robyn Wornall, Accreditation Co Chairs September 10, 2015
Preparation for Upcoming Visit Team Chair Dr. Willard Lewallen, Superintendent/President of Hartnell College, visited campus August 27 to coordinate details for the upcoming visit. Site visit scheduled for: Monday, September 28 Thursday, October 1 Along with team meetings, their schedule will include the following: Monday: tour of Main Campus and UVC Tuesday: team welcome/introductions, interviews, open forum Wednesday: interviews, open forum Thursday: exit report Of particular interest to the Board of Trustees: Welcome/Introduction of Team: Tuesday 8:30 9:00, Community Room Exit Report: Thursday 11:00 12:00, Community Room The campus community will be informed of details of the site visit, which will be rolled out via email at key junctures, as the details are solidified.
Expectations for Site Visit The Team Chair and the Team Assistant met with Ron, Carollee, and me to discuss the arrangements for the upcoming visit. The details of the visit will be coordinated between the Team Chair and the Accreditation Liaison Officer (RPIE Office). Initial requests for interviews anticipated next week. During the pre visit, Dr. Lewallen met with Presidents of Academic and Classified Senates, as well as the Accreditation Co Chairs. Conveyed general expectations, including: o Approach/philosophy toward accreditation: goal of improvement o Team makes requests for interviews among individuals/groups; college accommodates those requests o Open forums to provide opportunity for members of campus community (that will not be included in individual interviews) to participate o Team members will be identified with name badges and will be visiting classes and campus events as part of their observation of NVC; electronic brochure introducing team members
Exit Report Exit report will be: o general in nature o highlight areas of good work (commendations) o identify areas for improvement (recommendations) o not verbatim recommendations o nor will they be numbered/ranked in importance o structured as: anticipate a recommendation around...
Following Site Visit Key Events in the Accreditation Process Activity For Fall Visits Date(s) Institutional Self Evaluation Report submitted to August July 30, 2015 ACCJC Evaluation Team Visit October September 28 October 1, 2015 Draft Evaluation Team Report sent to College CEO for correction of errors of fact November TBD Commission meeting and decision on accreditation January January 6 January 8, 2016 Commission Action Letter received by College and posted on College website February TBD From the ACCJC s Manual for Institutional Self Evaluation (August 2015 ed.)
ACCJC Letter/Request for Information NVC received a letter from the ACCJC in mid August, requesting additional information associated with our Annual Report submission (March 2015). The additional information concerns two areas: o institution set standards for student achievement: job placement rates licensure examination passage rates o student learning outcomes (SLO) assessment
NVC s Self Evaluation Report We were aware of both issues prior to receiving the letter. o In the Compliance Checklist portion of our Self Evaluation Report, we indicated that the identification of expected performance levels for job placement and licensure exam pass rates was in progress (pages 59 60). o Enhancing our student learning assessment practices including ensuring wide spread institutional dialogue, regular ongoing assessment of student learning, and incorporating outcomes assessment data into resource allocation decisions was identified as an area for improvement in the Quality Focus Essay.
SLO Assessment Data Date Course (CLO) Program (PLO) Support (SSO) Institution (ILO) March 2012 51% 19% 44% 0% October 2012 73% 52% 40% 17% March 2013 77% 48% 45% 17% March 2014 89% 47% 78% 75% March 2015 50% 47% 94% 100% Sources: NVC s Annual Report to ACCJC, 2012 2015 and Fall 2012 SLO Implementation Report Reasons for fluctuation: o Number of programs/services included in calculations o Changes in curricular offerings (increase in denominator) o Refinement of reporting processes (evidence)
Status: Institution Set Standards Institution set standards for job placement and licensure exam pass rates: o Data has been provided for Career Technical, Health Occupations, and other related programs to inform dialogue about performance levels o Faculty within those programs are in the process of identifying appropriate performance levels o To be submitted by next week and then reviewed by the Vice President of Instruction o Will be incorporated into: supplemental materials for the External Evaluation Team letter to ACCJC
Work in progress: Status: SLO Assessment o Master data file (annotated, track changes, more detailed reporting) o Both fall 2015 flex days were designated to outcomes assessment activities (data entry, reporting, dialogue) o Those efforts are continuing (reminders, deadlines) o Update, including more complete information, will be included in the letter to the ACCJC
NVC s Response Next step: NVC is required to respond to the letter by October 15. The letter has been shared with the following groups: o Cabinet o Administrators within Career Technical and Health Occupations areas o Planning Committee o Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee o Academic Senate o Board of Trustees Based on our response, as well as the submission of our next Annual Report (March 2016), the Commission will determine whether we need to submit a special report addressing any of the areas of concern.