Preparing for a Special Visit: What Works

Marjorie Jaasma, Roxanne Robbin, Scott Davis

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

How can takeaways be adapted to your institutional context?

What takeaways would not work in your context? What other takeaways might you contribute from

your experience?

Background

2010: Educational Effectiveness Review 2011: Special Visit

Focus: Leadership and governance Direct Assessment of Student Learning Academic Program Review

2014 Special VisitFocus: Shared governance and campus climate Shared roles in strategic planning Shared roles in formulation of Retention, Promotion and

Tenure

Addressing the Commission Action Letter: Process and Charge

Process and Charge

Addressing the Commission Action Letter

Organizational Structure and Process

Membership Equal distribution of faculty and

administrators Faculty and administrator selection Staff member

AVPAA/ALO serves as Chair Principal writer

Considerations for Success

Team members widely respected

Excellent interpersonal communication skills

Research savvy

Strong staff support

Confidentiality and autonomy

Team Charge

The Self-Study Team Will :

Collect and analyze relevant data

Assess the current state of the issues

Evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken

Make recommendations

Considerations for Success

Observe and document, not implement nor invent

Consult widely

Quantitative data research methodology

Institutional support: time, resources, advocacy

Terms of the Study

Use Commission’s language

Document the process

Recall history of the issue(s)

Timeline

Finding Balance

Immediate Issue Reduce distractions Remain focused Guide discussions to

salience

Big Picture Identify history of issue(s) Situate issue within context Use tools to track progress

Research Design 2011 - 2014

Phase 1A Administration's Substantive Actions

Phase 1B Faculty Leader's Views of Impact

Phase 2A Administration's Key Committees, and Faculty Leader's Substantive Actions

Phase 2B Broader Community Views of Impact

Inventory

What Works

Easy to focus on what’s wrong.

What’s right also got you here.

What skills & practices can you transfer?

What Worked Inquiry Circle model

Research design

Clear boundaries for study

Clear roles for team members

Summary Maintain balance between big picture and

immediate issue

Stay focused; reduce distractions

Remember what works

Takeaways

Compose team of respected and skilled faculty & administrators

Provide institutional support: time, resources, advocacy

Assure confidentiality and autonomy Create meaningful research design Gather stakeholder input Maintain balance between big picture & immediate

issue Stay focused; reduce distractions Remember what works