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Components of the new requirements
The proposed requirements for initial or reaffirmation of accreditation
focus on quality enhancement and are divided into two major components:
Compliance Audit and Quality Enhancement Plan.
Compliance Audit
The Commission has proposed both core requirements and comprehensive
standards for the Compliance Audit component. The core requirements
reflect the former Conditions of Eligibility; thus, they are the
entry-level criteria for application or renewal of accreditation.
The proposed comprehensive standards are focused on critical factors.
They are less redundant than the "must" statements and provide institutions
greater flexibility in demonstrating compliance in light of their
institutional missions. Additionally, the criteria have a greater
focus on student learning outcomes and quality enhancement issues.
Commitment to quality enhancement of programs and services is in
context with an institution's mission, resources, and capacities.
Quality Enhancement Plan
The second component, Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), focuses
on student outcomes. It is a major project that improves or enhances
student learning and achievement. The theme of the plan is decided
by the institution and, by design, becomes specific to an individual
institution. The campus decides what is important to them and their
students as they strive for betterment. It is expected that the plan
will engage and renew the entire campus. The QEP is a long-term project
based on careful analyses, derived from an institution's mission,
and declaring an action plan that is projected over several years.
The plan, limited to 75 pages of narrative and 25 pages of appendices,
will include strategies, time lines, progress markers, and evaluation
components.
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