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Section IV: Programs
Comprehensive Standard for All Educational Programs
IV-5.
The institution publishes and disseminates academic policies to students,
faculty, and other interested parties and produces publications
that adequately
and accurately represent the programs and services of the institution
and that adhere to principles of good educational practice.
JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE
Yes,
East Tennessee State University is able to provide a portfolio of evidence
supporting compliance.
STATEMENT OF RATIONALE FOR JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE
East Tennessee State University publishes a wide array
of materials, in both print and electronic forms, in order to make its academic policies
and procedures available to students, faculty, and other interested parties.
University policy requires that all publications be reviewed for content,
appearance, accuracy, appropriateness for the intended audience, sound
educational content, and economy(A Guide to Services Offered by the
Division of University Relations). A statewide publication numbering
system, initially mandated by the Tennessee Board of Regents to monitor
costs (TBR Manual, Publications), is used currently by the ETSU
University Press as a means of quality control and assurance. The assignment
of Once
a "TBR number" is assigned to a publication, this number serves as an indicator that a the publication has been reviewed for the factors
characteristics listed above. Publication editors are charged with the
task of making sure all information describing the university is accurate
and that all commitments made in writing are legitimate (A Guide to
Services Offered by the Division of University Relations).
To ensure In support of accuracy
of ETSU publicationsaccurately reflect the programs and services offered
by the institution, each of the documents
reviewed must pass through a
includes a series of examinations before changes, additions, or deletions
can be made. The ETSU Undergraduate, Graduate, and Quillen College of
Medicine catalogs are reviewed annually at department and college levels,
and then by the offices of admissions and the registrar, before being
printed. Similarly, the ETSU Schedule of Classes is approved
every semester by each department chair and by the office of the registrar
prior to publication. The Spectrum student handbook is reviewed
annually by the office office of student affairs. Proposed changes
in the ETSU Faculty Handbook may originate within the TBR, theETSU
administration, or the ETSU Faculty Senate. Locally proposed c, and hanges must be
approved by the ETSU Academic Council, the president, and in the case
of major changes, also by the TBR. With quality assurance review taking
place at the department, college, admissions office, registrar's office,
university press, and the office of university relations, we ensure that
the publication contents are thoroughly checked for compliance with policy
(TBR Manual, Publications; A Guide to Services Offered by the
Division of University Relations).
An assessment of the ETSU Spectrum (student handbook)
is conducted as part of a survey of student satisfaction (Noel Levitz
Student Satisfaction Inventory). The most recent survey results are available
for spring 2000, which included 630 ETSU students. Using a score of one
to seven (seven representing the highest satisfaction),Essentially,
students were asked how important the student handbook is to them, and
how satisfied they are with the document contents. Using a scale of one
to seven, with seven being the highest, 630 ETSU students were surveyed. The results were
then compared to results from ten peer institutions. ETSU, students' rating
of the Spectrum provided an average score of 5.59 for importance
(compared to 5.59 for 10 peer institutions), and an average satisfaction
level of 4.87 (compared to 5.01 for 10 peer institutions). These comparisons
suggest that ETSU's student handbook is comparable to those of peer institutions
(Division of Student Affairs Newsletter, "Real Student Affairs").
To determine evaluate the adequacy of the ETSU "core" documents, a comparative review was
made with parallel documents published by peer institutions. Reviewers
initially participated in a holistic survey that resulting established
particularcriteria that emerged as useful standards by
means of which all such for the evaluation of core documents could be
examined. These criteria included the following characteristics:
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were logical, or reasonable order
of presentation,
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the completeness of the document,
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the clarity of the writing, therein,
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the appropriate and helpful use of diagrams, charts, and lists,
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the consistent use of terms and definitions, and
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the usefulness of tables of contents and index pages.
Rcomparisons eviews were limited to online web documents
and included . Mof the institutions are identified as ETSU peer institutions
by the TBR as peer institutions. In all cases, these comparative reviews
led to the conclusion that ETSU's core publications are adequate in the
representation of programs, services, policies, and procedures of the
institution.
DOCUMENTATION
SOURCE
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LOCATION
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A Guide to Services Offered by the Division of University Relations
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Tennessee Board of Regents Policies and Guidelines
Manual, Guideline G-140, Publications
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ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, 2001-2002
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ETSU Graduate Catalog, 2001-2002
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ETSU James H. Quillen College of Medicine Catalog,
2001-2002
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ETSU Schedule of Classes
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SACS Documentation Files
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ETSU Spectrum (Student Handbook)
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ETSU Division of Student Affairs Newsletter,
"Real Student Affairs"
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ETSU Faculty Handbook
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ETSU Part-Time Adjunct Faculty Handbook
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ETSU Graduate Assistant-Tuition Scholar Handbook
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