Communal Discernment: Reaffirmation 2018 R.U. Ready for HLC? As we focus on the demanding and important work of educating men and women who will go forth to accept leadership roles and make a positive impact on our global society, it is easy to lose sight of the many ways that the Regis University community lives out our institutional mission. Next November, we will welcome a team of peer reviewers from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). HLC aims to ensure that Regis University is: realizing its mission (Criterion One) operating with integrity (Criterion Two) providing high quality teaching and learning (Criterion Three) continually assessing and improving student-facing functions and intended outcomes (Criterion Four) planning and allocating resources to reflect good practices and institutional priorities (Criterion Five) To ensure a successful reaffirmation, it is important that all faculty, staff and administrators are knowledgeable about the HLC Criteria for Accreditation, R.U. Learning Assessment efforts and the many ways in which Regis University has prepared itself for the visit. Stay up to date on all reaffirmation information by visiting regis.edu/accreditation. As we near this important event, you are encouraged to engage in conversations about our institutional reaffirmation. Important Dates: Invitation for public comment Beginning January, 2018 Criterion team reports due April 2, 2018 MOCK reaffirmation visit - April 16-17, 2018 Preparation sessions with HLC vice president liaison - May 7, 2018 Communal discernment sessions for internal stakeholders to review and comment on the DRAFT assurance argument: Session I: Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018-1 - 2 p.m. Session II: Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018-10 - 11:30 a.m. Session III: Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018-2 - 3:30 p.m. Session IV: Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018-3 - 4:30 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions About Institutional Accreditation What is institutional accreditation and why is it important? The accreditation process assures and advances quality in higher education; the process occurs through peer review focused on U.S. Department of Education regulations and established criteria for accreditation. In order to provide federal financial aid to students, an institution must be accredited. Accreditation is required for institutions to award certificates and degrees. Earning credits at a regionally-accredited institution is important for students who wish to transfer credits or pursue admission to graduate programs. Employers frequently verify the accreditation of degree-granting institutions before extending employment offers to new graduates or contributing to college expenses as part of a company-sponsored benefits program. What is the name of Regis University s institutional accreditor and when was our accreditation last reaffirmed? The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is one of six regional accrediting bodies in the Unites States. It is formally recognized as an accrediting body by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Regis University s last reaffirmation of accreditation visit occurred in 2008, afterwards, the institution was granted a standard 10-year continuance of accredited status. When is Regis University s next reaffirmation of accreditation visit? The visiting team of peer reviewers will arrive on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018. They will conduct interviews on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018 Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 with members of the Regis community whom will be selected in advance of the visit. What will happen during the reaffirmation visit? A team of peer reviewers, led by a team chair, will determine which members of the Regis community they wish to interview. Probable members include students, staff, faculty, deans, administrators, the Cabinet and Board of Trustees. In October 2018, Regis University will submit an assurance argument, which will provide evidence that the institution meets HLC s five criteria for accreditation. When the team is meeting with the Regis community during the visit, they will seek to validate the evidence presented in our assurance argument. Information gathered during the HLC s visit will help determine whether Regis University meets the criteria for accreditation and whether or not the institution qualifies for reaffirmation. What can I do to prepare for and contribute to a positive outcome during the visit? Read Regis University s assurance argument. Know the Regis University mission statement and the six key Jesuit values. Be prepared to articulate how your work embodies these values. Be familiar with the strategic directions articulated in the most recent version of Regis Rising. Instructional and co-curricular units should know the Regis Nine our institutional learning outcomes. These outcomes are the foundation of the R.U. Learning Assessment Plan. Be ready to articulate how you assess student learning and how you use that data to improve your programs (instructional/co-curricular units) or how you assess the effectiveness of your unit and how you use that data to improve your processes and operations (operational units). Answer any questions asked honestly and thoughtfully. If you don t know the answer, be honest and ask the peer reviewer if you can get the answer to them before they leave. Familiarize yourself with HLC s Five Criteria for Accreditation (see following page). Be available when the HLC team is on campus. Although we will be given a meeting schedule prior to the visit, it may change as the team develops additional questions.
Criteria for Accreditation
Questions Everyone Should be Ready to Answer 1. What do you know about accreditation? Have you seen or read Regis University s assurance argument? 2. What do you know about the Higher Learning Commission? 3. With regard to Regis University, what are you most proud of? 4. What are the University s current strategic planning priorities? 5. What is it like to work at Regis University? How is morale on campus? 6. What makes Regis University unique in Colorado and among higher education universities in general? 7. Do you think that academics are the top priority at Regis University? Why or why not? 8. Provide an example of how Regis University is committed to freedom of expression. 9. What are Regis University s greatest strengths? 10. What are the biggest challenges facing Regis University? What challenges face your department? 11. Describe any campus processes or initiatives that could be improved or made more efficient. 12. What kind of changes are taking place at Regis University? Do you see these changes as positive or negative? 13. How would you describe the climate of diversity on campus? 14. How would you describe Regis University s mission? Do you know where to find the official mission statement? 15. How does your department contribute to Regis University s mission? 16. Describe your codes of conduct and how they are used. 17. Do you know where to find information about academic integrity and policies regarding academic misconduct?
Practice Questions for Students 1. Why did you choose to enroll at Regis University? 2. What do you like best about Regis University? What would you change if you could? 3. Have your expectations of Regis University been met? 4. How would you describe the relationship between students and faculty? 5. Describe your experiences with academic advising. 6. Have you experienced any problems enrolling in the courses you need to take in a timely manner? 7. If you have transferred credits, what was the experience like? 8. Do you think the University is clear in its communication with students about topics such as financial aid, student conduct, costs and graduation requirements? What improvements would you recommend? 9. Are you able to estimate your bill each semester? Do you know if you are enrolled in an accredited program? 10. Do you know where to go for help with academic support, career planning, personal counseling, making a complaint or technology support? 11. Do you use any of the following: library, tutoring services, dining services, the health center or recreational facilities? If yes, what has been your experience? 12. What do you think is special about a Regis University education? 13. Tell us about programming that happens outside of academic departments where you have learned something. 14. What opportunities do you have to conduct research, participate in community or service learning experiences, interact with people and cultures different from your own or gain real world experience related to your educational and career goals? 15. Would you recommend Regis University to other students?
Practice Questions for Faculty 1. What are the characteristics of a Regis University education? 2. Provide an example of how Regis University is committed to the pursuit of truth in teaching and learning. 3. Are you involved in research? How does the University s focus on research further its mission? 4. What opportunities do students in your program have to gain experience with research, community, civic engagement, diversity or multiculturalism? 5. Is your department actively involved in assessing student learning? What improvements have come from assessment findings? What evidence do you have that students achieve your program s intended learning outcomes? 6. Does your department offer courses or programs via distance education? If so, how is the quality of curriculum ensured regardless of how or where it is delivered? 7. How do you ensure that all classes online, blended, off campus, dual credit - have the same student learning outcomes and equivalent assessments? 8. Do you have undergraduate students and graduate students in the same classroom? How do you differentiate between undergraduate and graduate learning outcomes? 9. How are your students doing once they graduate? 10. Over the past five years, significant initiatives have been implemented in several key student support areas. Can you describe some of these efforts and how they ve contributed to undergraduate success? 11. Is Regis University, or your college/unit/department, more effective than it has been in the past 10 years? Explain. 12. With regard to faculty work, what works well at Regis University and what needs to be improved? 13. Can you describe the tenure and promotion process? What is your impression of the process? 14. What resources are available to support faculty (e.g., library, internal grants, external grant support, faculty development, travel)? Are these sufficient in meeting faculty needs? 15. What are the biggest resource challenges at Regis University? 16. What is the role of faculty in ensuring academic quality? 17. What is your department s vision for the future? How does this relate to the University s vision? 18. How would you describe the relationship between faculty and administration? What works and what needs improvement? 19. Talk about shared governance and how faculty participate in decision-making at different university levels (department, college, institution). 20. Describe the relationship between Regis University s colleges. What collaboration exists? 21. What is the purpose of Regis University s Liberal Arts Core general education program? What ways does the program achieve its goals for students? How could it be improved? 22. What is the purpose of Regis University s Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) program? In what ways does the program achieve its goals for students? How could it be improved? 23. Tell me about the ACE Program. How does it work? How are you assessing the learning outcomes? How does this program tie to your mission? 24. For those who have recently had a specialized program accreditation visit, what have you learned from the process of writing the self-study, experiencing the external visit and the external visitor s written report?
Practice Questions for Staff 1. What is it like to be a staff member at Regis University? How is morale on campus? 2. What are some important benefits of working at Regis University? What do you like best about your job? What would you change if you could? 3. What ways does your work contribute to the mission of Regis University? 4. What are the biggest resource challenges at Regis University? 5. How are staff evaluated at Regis University? What is your impression of the evaluation process? 6. How are staff involved in campus decision-making processes? Do you think that staff have sufficient input into decisions that affect them? 7. How would you describe the relationship between staff and administration? What could be improved? 8. Do you feel that the work you do is valued by administration, faculty, other staff members and students? 9. What opportunities do you have for professional development? 10. How do units across campus work collaboratively? What works well and what could be improved? 11. How does your department contribute to student learning and development? How does your department assess or evaluate effectiveness? 12. To what degree is technology a part of your daily work? How well are you supported when technology does not work as it should? 13. How would you describe the leadership at Regis University? 14. Tell me about opportunities for growth and possible advancement within the institution. What are some ways this could be achieved by a staff member at Regis? 15. What ways does Regis demonstrate its commitment to the common good? 16. What is the proper course of action if an employee has experienced harassment or discrimination?