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Goals for the Accreditation Review Project
The specific goals of the SACS Commission on Colleges Accreditation
Review Project are:
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To develop and propose requirements that are essential to
candidates for accreditation and reaffirmation
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To develop a process that is effective and efficient while
providing greater flexibility and increased responsibility to
institutions for accountability
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To develop manuals for the accreditation requirements and
the peer review process and to develop workshops for informing
and training
Goal One: Requirements
The first goal of the SACS Commission on Colleges' Accreditation
Review Project, to develop and propose requirements that are essential
to candidates for accreditation and reaffirmation, represents the
paradigm shift from prescribed criteria (450+ "must" statements)
to elements of accreditation (66 core requirements/standards, plus
six for institutions participating in Title IV funding) maintaining
rigors of regulatory function. Additionally, the proposed requirements
require an institution to develop a substantial Quality Enhancement
Plan that benefits students in their education. The proposed accreditation
core requirements and standards emphasize flexibility with self-defined
qualitative standards where an institution uses its own creativity
in its definitions.
Goal Two: Process
The second goal of the Commission, to develop a process that is
effective and efficient while providing greater flexibility and increased
responsibility to institutions for accountability, will assist both
institutions and peer review teams. The process is more efficient
and effective than the present approach to the comprehensive self-study
and the current method of conducting a reaffirmation committee visit.
For institutions, it is expected that this process will take less
time than the comprehensive self-study. Peer review teams will be
reduced in both size and length of the on-site visit. These reductions
will be less disruptive to the on-going operation of the institution.
Review teams will concentrate on an institution's plans for quality
enhancement. Greater effectiveness of the focus of the review will
result with increased opportunities to examine issues bearing directly
on the quality enhancement of an institution's programs and services
with particular attention to student learning outcomes.
At this time, the Commission envisions an off-site review of the
Certification of Compliance and its support documentation. Separate
off-site and on-site review processes give institutions greater opportunity
to benefit from consultancy. The off-site review team will advise
the on-site team on its observations. On-site review will verify
the compliance with the Core Requirements and Comprehensive Standards,
evaluate plans for coming into compliance, evaluate the Quality
Enhancement Plan, and provide consultation on the issues addressed
in the plan. This team will prepare a written report of its findings
and make a recommendation to the COC regarding the accreditation
status. The report and institutional response will be forwarded
to the Commission for review and action.
Goal Three: Supplemental Materials
The third goal of the Commission, to develop manuals for the accreditation
requirements and the peer review process and to develop workshops
for informing and training, will assist both institutions and peer
reviewers. Supplemental materials to be developed include guidebooks
and manuals for institutions, evaluation committee members and chairs,
the Commission's Criteria and Reports Committees, and the Quality
Enhancement Plan. Workshops and seminars for presentation at annual
regional meetings during 2002-2004 will be developed. Greater professional
development opportunities for trained peer reviewers are anticipated.
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