SNU HLC/NCA Accreditation Update

SNU Graduate & Professional Studies

Fall MeetingOctober 24, 2008

SNU Accreditationwww.snu.edu/hlc

• through North Central Association (NCA)’s Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

• SNU Self-Study providing 10-year look at campus

• Preparations underway for NCA/HLC campus visit October 5-7, 2009

Accreditation Self-Study

• Are we doing what we say we are doing?

• What are our strengths and our challenges?

• How can we prepare for the future?

• What do we want students to learn and how well are they learning?

Telling the SNU Story

1. Mission &Integrity

HLC Criteria/Themes5. Engagement

& Service2. Preparing for

the Future

4. Acquisition, Discovery, & Application of Knowledge

3.Student Learning & Effective Teaching

A. Future-oriented

B. Learning-focused

C. C

onne

cted

D. D

is tin cti ve

Observations emerging from

• SNU surveys (faculty, staff, students, alumni, department chairs, Board)

• National surveys with comparative data (SSI-students, NSSE-students, HERI-faculty, BCW-staff/faculty)

• Findings of SNU faculty/staff committees based on evidence from interviews & examination of documents

Sample faculty findings

• competent colleagues• need to reward faculty for good teaching• student ethnic diversity educationally

valuable• not enough involvement in campus

decision-making• department alignment with SNU mission

• highest stressors: lack of personal time, working with underprepared students, self-imposed high expectations

• electronic databases top priority for library• need to link planning & budget decisions

to mission• appreciate having flexibility in the

workplace• need improved teamwork across

departments

Higher than the national average for religious 4-year colleges

• emphasis on personal service & using scholarship to address community needs

• professional support through travel funds, internal research grants, association memberships/dues, paid sabbaticals, workshops on classroom teaching

• adequate support for integrating technology into the classroom

Emerging SNU Strengths

Core Strengths• Widespread support for SNU mission • Institutional partnerships• Educational access for students• Commitment to student learning• Programs addressing educational needs• Innovation in learning environments• Culture of service• Strong connection with sponsoring church

• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Where can we improve?

Recommendations• Do more to address diversity • Continue to improve campus security &

emergency preparedness• Improve campus communication• Follow our graduates after graduation• Publicize faculty accomplishments• Equip adjunct instructors• Emphasize doing & using assessment

More discussions around

• Academic freedom• Acknowledging faculty contributions• Dealing with plagiarism• Under-prepared students• Diversity on campus• Global & environmental emphases• Research & scholarship• Church relationships

How will this impact me?

. . . as an instructor?• Reporting on adjunct faculty professional

involvements & activities• New means of routine communication• Emergency preparedness emphasis• Collecting information on former students• Faculty development opportunities

. . . in my classes?• Increased attention to assessment &

learning outcomes• Continuing emphasis on academic

honesty • Technology promoting learning• Curricular global perspectives• “Green” emphasis on campus

CreditsCreated for SNU GPS Faculty Meeting, 24 October 2008 by Gwen Ladd Hackler,

ghackler@snu.edu

Photo credits, in order of appearance:www.campaignadvantage.comwww.hcahlc.orgwww.youngstown.edu