A Self-Study Plan for (NCA) of Secondary Schools and Colleges Purpose The purpose of the self-study for the continued accreditation of Chicago State University by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges (NCA) is to improve the effectiveness of the institution by linking the NCA self-examination process to university improvement efforts such as strategic planning and assessment and to the Illinois Commitment, a statewide initiative for state colleges and universities. Specifically, the NCA self-study process will provide the opportunity for Chicago State University to:
-
review the university's progress since the last self-study in 1993;
-
provide a basis for strengthening the planning process for the future of CSU;
-
identify key indicators of institutional effectiveness consistent with the goals of the Illinois Commitment;
-
identify specific concerns (weaknesses) and initiate improvement activities consistent with CSU's mission and vision.
-
develop an assessment-based process and a guide for annual planning and budgeting
Committees
- The Self-Study Steering Committee
The Charge
The charge of the NCA Self-Study Steering Committee is to promote university and community wide participation in the self-study process by serving as liaison between administration, faculty, staff, governing board members and the community served by Chicago State University.
The role of the steering committee is defined as being responsible for :
-
making critical decisions regarding the membership of the subcommittees
-
approving the actions of the subcommittees through a review of their findings, particularly areas of overlap
-
providing direction to the subcommittee chairs
-
monitoring data collection and analysis
-
monitoring the entire self-study process, assuring that the process occurs in a timely manner
-
assisting in the writing of sections of an evaluative self-study report
-
serve as a liaison to the subcommittee
-
provide mechanisms for the subcommittees to report to each other
Candidate Criteria
Since a goal of the self-study process is to have broad representation from all constituencies involved in the self-study process, the following faculty and staff selection criteria should be considered :
- Employee status- tenure track , temporary, administrative staff, civil service Operational areas- Instruction, Student Services, Business Office, Physical Plant
- Academic divisions- Colleges, Library, Academic Support, Admissions, Registrar, and Financial Aid, Graduate Studies and Continuing Education
- Institutional Research- Staff member serves as a resource
- Length of Service- New and Long Term Employees
Qualities for Membership include:
- good critical thinking skills
- respected by peers
- good group participant
- doers- individuals who will do the work expected those without an axe to grind
Identification & Selection
(1) Vice Presidents, Deans, Assistant Deans, etc. will recommend names
(2) An open evaluation will be provided to the campus committee to seek participants
Once the candidates have been identified, the co-chairs and the president will make the selections. The president will issue letters to the selected candidates inviting them to serve on the steering committee and expressing her commitment to the process.
- Chapter/ Criterion Subcommittees
Charge
The charge of each chapter/criterion committee is (1) to review the appropriate section of the Handbook for Accreditation ( 2nd ed.), develop a specific section of the self-study guide that includes questions to be observed about each criterion and related General Institutional Requirements (GIR's), the type of evidence needed to determine if the criterion is met and the resources for collecting data; (2) collect and analyze data (evidence) and identify sources used in obtaining the evidence; (3) write the evaluative report referencing sources used to collect data.
Qualifications of Committee chairs
- Recognized as leaders by their peers either by position or the nature of their personalities
- Good organizational and consensus building skills
- Demonstrated writing proficiency
Responsibilities of the Chairs- to coordinate the efforts of the committee, give members assignments and synthesize the reports.
General Institutional Requirements Subcommittee (GIR)Charge
The charge of the GIR Subcommittee is to review the GIR section of the Handbook for Accreditation (2nd ed.), identify the evidence needed to satisfy the GIR's, and write an expository/evaluative response to each GIR. The report should reference the source of the evidence.
- Subcommittees on Previous Concerns
Charge
The charge of these subcommittees is(1) to review each concern, review the status of the concerns and to make recommendations for actions to be taken and (2) write an evaluative report on the same referencing the source of the evidence. Concerns include: information technology, appropriateness of the residence hall, student success planning & resources, review of faculty workload to implement the 3 point model, space allocation, obsolete instructional materials, deferred maintenance, athletics, compliance with ADA.
- Unit Coordinators, Unit Self-Studies and Division Reports
To achieve broad-based involvement of faculty and administration in the self-study process, an adaptation of the unit self-study process used during the last NCA self-study process will be used. Three levels of self-study will be employed. Level III Self-study reports will be prepared by units , i.e. departments within colleges and singular units within other large units in the division of Academic Affairs, Administrative Affairs and Student Development. Level II reports will be prepared by college deans and administration at that level. In addition, self-study reports will be prepared by Vice Presidents & the Provost (divisional level)
Other Possible Subcommittees
- University -Wide Assessment Committee
- New Millennium & Long Range Planning Committee
- Assessment of Institutional Climate and Outside Constituencies
- General Education
VI Provide an opportunity for faculty and staff involvement in the future direction of the institution.
General Time Table
1999-2000
Institute the assessment based planning and budgeting process and use of the planning guide.
- Revise Planning guide Appoint Steering Committee & Subcommittee
Develop self-study guide
- Address Concerns from the previous report
Appoint a subcommittee to address each concern
- Reconstitute the University-wide Assessment Committee with an expanded charge to identify key indicators of institutional effectiveness.
2000-2001
Continue the Assessment based planning & budgeting process. Add strategic planning component and make revisions.
- Appoint Unit Coordinators and give copies of the self-study guide. Initiate unit self-studies steering committee review reports.
- Continue to address concerns from the last report. Initiate specific actions. Gather information for GIR's.
- Develop table of contents for self-study. Develop an exhibit's list.
- Establish third party comments committee.
- Draft reports from Deans and Vice Presidents are due May 15, 2001. Draft reports from department chairs/directors are due March 15, 2001.
- Administer internal climate survey to faculty, staff and students.
2001-2002
- Draft self-study reports are returned to unit coordinators.
- Notify public of NCA visit.
- Draft reports evaluated & reviewed by Steering Committee and returned for revisions by subcommittees and units.
- Administer internal climate survey.
2002-2003 September 2002- Final report sent to NCA, six months before visit.
North Central Accreditation
Self-Study Plan
Timetable for 1999 - 2000
Summer 1999
Institute assessment based planning and budget process July 1999
Develop self-study plan that includes purpose, effectiveness, July 1999 Steering Committee and subcommittee charges draft.
Identify weaknesses from previous report.
Contact NCA representaive Fall 1999
- Introduce NCA initiatives at Faculty Celebration Week August
- Identify membership of the Steering Committee and subcommittees September
- Appoint Steering Committee and Subcommittees September
- Address concerns from previous self-study
- Reconstitute University-wide Assessment Committee
- Steering Committee meets monthly to review the charge, criteria, October thru draft timetable, draft table of contents December
- Chapter/ Criterion Subcommittee October thru
December
- Briefing of Board of Trustees December
Spring 2000
- Steering Committee continues to meet
- Chapter Committees March
Finalize charge-completing questions, sample evidence
- Identify Unit Coordinators and committees March/April
- Concerns Committees continue to meet May 2000
Finalize report on recommendations and actions to be taken. The Self-Study Process
1.Self evaluation is essential to the self-study process. The written report must
contain more than a description of what is. It must also mean " what is" against "what should be" or "what is desired". 2. The process must be broad-based and involve wide faculty and staff participation.
3. For this reason, different types and levels of committees will be involved in different aspects of the self-study process.
Coordinators
Steering Committee
Coordinators - Co-chairs
Committees University-wide Units
Criterion/Chapter Committees Unit Coordinators/ Committees GIR Committee College/larger Units
Previous Concerns Committees
Other Committees Division
Steering Committee
Coordinators
|
