Driving the AccreDitAtion & SLo highwAynAvigAting the roADS of chAnge

AccreDitAtion inStitute 2008 JAnuAry 25-27, 2008

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Dear Participants,

Welcome to our second annual Academic Senate ACCREDITATION INSTITUTE—Driving the Accreditation and SLO Highway: Navigating the Roads of Change. We have over 120 people attending this Institute, which was originally planned for 100. We are so pleased you are here!

Accreditation and SLO assessment are two of the most powerful ways to rethink and improve our institutions and educational practices. We will learn that the federal government acknowledges this power and, in some factions, would like to take over the accreditation process, mandating their own changes and outcomes. Meanwhile, we know that Accreditation and SLO assessment, when done correctly, require a lot of work! However, we hope to facilitate some of that hard work by providing both examples of models from other institutions like yours and by providing time to work on issues with the help of mentors and experts.

We have changed the Institute schedule in direct response to feedback from last year’s Institute. If you look at the schedule, you will notice that there are six general sessions. These were created to address priority issues that everyone needs to hear about. Then we have breakout sessions designed for three different sets of needs. The breakouts labeled with A (1A, 2A and 3A) are directed towards participants working on their self study and are designed around the Accreditation Commission for Community and Junior Colleges Four Standards. Breakouts labeled B (1B, 2B, 3B) are designed for those participants new to SLO assessment; your campus may still be at the starting gate. Breakouts labeled C (1C, 2C, 3C) are designed for those of you with real SLO assessment experience that need to move your institution to the next level; you are on the road and want to arrive at your destination. Look at the breakout options and choose those at the appropriate level. We hope if you came with a team, you can send representatives to sample each session.

We have designed informal and work sessions to provide laboratory–like environments that enable you to apply the information presented. Friday and Saturday nights will provide informal sharing opportunities to learn from colleagues. Friday night will occur after dinner (with a full bar to provide a little lubrication for the open sharing), led initially by a few schools with prepared tidbits, but ending with opportunities for input from anyone. Saturday night will begin with a short video showing a simple assessment at Harvard that uncovered a fundamental educational problem firmly cemented in educational techniques. Breakout sessions 2C and 3C will be time for you to draft a potential assessment plan for a specified area and suited to your institution. The final general session, Exiting the Freeway: Applying the Lessons of the Road, is designed to help you get things down on paper that will move your institution forward in an area of your choice. We hope you will either continue assessment planning or begin to draft self study flow charts, outlines and language. To facilitate this, we have a terrific panel of experts roaming around to answer questions, and evaluate the drafts to take back to your campus.

Finally, we enthusiastically look forward to your evaluations and suggestions about the Institute. We have designed specific evaluations for each session and an overall Institute evaluation, based upon outcomes (some overly robust) for each session. We hope to model, in a small way, the type of preparation, assessment and closing of the loop during our time together. So participants, START YOUR ENGINES and join us on the Accreditation and SLO Highway as we Navigate the Roads of Change.

Welcome, Janet Fulks Accreditation and SLO Committee Chair

Friday, January 25 Urban Legends About Accreditation

1:10 P.m. generAL SeSSion

The Federal Back Seat Driver on a Crowded Freeway: Who Is Driving Accreditation Anyway?International East

Facilitator: Janet Fulks, Bakersfield CollegeBarbara Beno, President, ACCJC/WASC

The federal government wants to be more involved in accreditation. The system of higher education in the United States is unique because colleges are accredited based on a peer review process. But the federal government and other entities feel this process is broken. During the last year, regional accrediting commissions came under direct fire from the federal government and other agencies. Whose hands are on the steering wheel anyway? How do we respond to the new federal pressures that have been placed on accreditation? What is the value of peer review? Participants will be able to evaluate present peer review accreditation methodology and indicate the strengths and weaknesses associated with peer review.

2:30 P.m. coffee BreAk

2:45 P.m. firSt BreAkout SeSSionS

Accreditation Standard I and IV — Institutional Mission and Leader-ship: Where Does the Rhetoric Meet the Road? International East

Facilitator: Janet Fulks, Bakersfield CollegeRichard Mahon, Riverside City CollegeLinda Umbdenstock, Long Beach City CollegeLynn Welch, San Joaquin Delta College

ACCJC Standard I Institutional Mission and Effectiveness and Standard IV Leadership and Governance provide the structure for institutional processes, planning and decisions. The college mission statement should drive institutional goals and outcomes–but does it? Find out if your mission statement honestly reflects what your institution values and how effective is your institution at fulfilling that mission. Will your self study conclude that your governance and leadership processes are operating well? It is easy to assign these two important standards to administrators, but faculty must take a role in examining governance processes and improving those areas that often produce problems, so don’t miss this session.

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SLO Beginners — Drivers Training: SLO 101 for New CoordinatorsSan Marino

Facilitator: Janice Tomson, Long Beach City CollegeScott Lee, Antelope Valley CollegeBob Pacheco, Barstow CollegeTracy Schneider, Solano College

This breakout focuses on driving school for new SLO coordinators, folks with very little experience navigating the SLO Highway and for institutions that have not yet organized an approach to outcomes assessment. Topics will include getting the SLO vehicle started, enticing others to drive with you and defensive driving. Attendees will go through a basic driver’s manual, defining terms and car parts to help you begin your journey.

Advanced Drivers Training: Life in the SLO Fast Lane Monterey

Facilitator: Kenneth Bearden, Butte CollegeMarcy Alancraig, Cabrillo CollegeBarbara Anderson, Pierce CollegeKaren Wong, Skyline College

Now that your college is on the road, this breakout will talk about how to keep moving. What are the major speed bumps, where do you fuel up? Sustaining assessment in a meaningful manner, instituting robust dialogue, storing data, and reporting results will all be included in this interactive session.

4:00 P.m. generAL SeSSion

Urban Legends Video ClipInternational East

Reports from the CHP: Update on Road Conditions, Mapping the Fu-ture, and Planning the Highway ConstructionMark Wade Lieu, President, Academic Senate

Participants will learn about Academic Senate activities to support local accreditation efforts and get an update on what is happening on the national level.

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1B

1C

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Getting the GPS Roadmap Up and Running: Developing the Satellite View of the Student Services’ Topography and LandscapeFacilitator: Janet Fulks, Bakersfield College Angela Caballero de Cordero, Allan Hancock CollegeScott Lee, Antelope Valley CollegeGary Williams, Crafton Hills College

This session will focus on the development of outcomes and their assessment in student services areas, from the macro to the micro components. How do you begin to coordinate outcomes in counseling, the library, DSPS, EOPS, and other student service areas? While instructional faculty often focus on their courses, student service faculty must focus on outcomes at a program level. Student services and instruction are undeniably linked in student success, yet articulating and assessing student services outcomes begins with a high level institutional viewpoint of student pathways. Where do you begin and what can you actually observe and measure? Join these experts for a satellite view to help you get oriented.

5:30 P.m. no hoSt cocktAiLS

6:00 P.m. Dinner

7:00 P.m. ProfeSSionAL interActionSan Gabriel

Assessment Pileups and Traffic Miracles: Notes from the FreewayFacilitators: Janice Tomson, Long Beach City College and Sue Mouck, Lassen College

Come ready to share your experiences, both positive and negative, with other drivers on the SLO Highway. Advice and commiseration will be served.

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Saturday, January 26 8:00 A.m. continentAL BreAkfASt International West

9:00 A.m. generAL SeSSion

The Traffic Stop — Getting Pulled Over: What Happens When Things Go Wrong?International East

Facilitator: Janet Fulks, Bakersfield College Sue Mouck, Lassen CollegeLinda Umbdenstock, Long Beach City CollegeLynn Welch, San Joaquin Delta College

Has your college taken a wrong turn on the Accreditation Highway? Have you broken down on the side of the road? Compton’s loss of accreditation and elimination as one of the 109 California community colleges was a shock. Lassen is currently fighting to retain accreditation and several other colleges are on warning. What happens when the ACCJC cites your college with immediate recommendations and schedules a progress visit within the next year? What about when your college is put on warning? Do you call a tow truck or the Highway Patrol? What concrete steps can faculty take when the unexpected or unthinkable happens?

10:20 A.m. coffee BreAk

10:30 A.m. SeconD BreAkout SeSSionS

Accreditation Standard II Triple A (AAA) Road Service: (Assessment, Accreditation and Academic Senate)International East

Facilitator: Kenneth Bearden, Butte College Angela Caballero de Cordero, Allan Hancock CollegeJanice Tomson, Long Beach City CollegeShaaron Vogel, Butte CollegeLynn Welch, San Joaquin Delta College

This session discusses the expansive need for institution wide understanding of outcomes. The provisions of this standard are broadly applicable to all instructional activities offered in the name of the institution. How do you get there and what are important principles to remember as you evaluate this portion of the self study.

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SLO Beginners — Oil Changes: Beginning Easy Assessment Techniques for Classrooms and Programs San Marino

Facilitator: Scott Lee, Antelope Valley College Barbara Anderson, Los Angeles Pierce CollegeTracy Schneider, Solano CollegeGary Williams, Crafton Hills College

You have written some SLOs, so what comes next? Faculty are experts in assessing student work in their classrooms. What is different about assessing outcomes, why are institutions getting hung up with assessment? This panel discussion will describe a collection of assessment techniques that are fun, meaningful and successful in the classroom or with programs. Come and get a tune-up on how to create assessment practices in classrooms and programs that yield useful results and improve student learning and our teaching.

SLO Advanced – Advanced Assessment Techniques — 60,000 Mile Tune Up: General Education and Institutional Assessment Techniques Monterey

Facilitator: Bob Pacheco, Barstow CollegeMarcy Alancraig, Cabrillo CollegeLinda Umbdenstock, Long Beach City CollegeNorv Wellsfry, Cosumnes River College

What are the vital components of the college’s mass transit that transports nearly all the students? How do you even find the gauges that measure this, much less analyze what their readings mean? This breakout addresses General Education and Institutional Assessments. Many cars have simply stopped dead in their tracks or slammed on the brake when it came to this part of assessing outcomes. Join mechanics from colleges who have actually started this work to hear how they’ve tuned up their engines and made the college car run better.

12:00 P.m. LunchInternational West

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2C

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1:10 P.m. generAL SeSSion

Evidence: Where Do You Store your Maintenance Record?International East

Facilitator: Gary Williams, Crafton Hills CollegeJanet Fulks, Bakersfield College Virginia Moran, Victor Valley College

Evidence: How do you get it and where to store it? What type of evidence fuels the assessment cycle? What happens if you get sugar in your gas tank and sputter to a stop? How do you make the evidence collection practical and safe? This general session discusses what evidence should be protected and what evidence should be generally accessible. This session helps you to plan for the presentation of data, when to aggregate it, and how to use it to stimulate and sustain the assessment process.

2:30 P.m. work SeSSionS

Accreditation Standard III — Resources: Spark Plugs, GPS, Hybrid Vehicles (Increasing MPG)International East

Facilitator: Janet Fulks, Bakersfield CollegeKenneth Bearden, Butte CollegeRichard Mahon, Riverside City CollegeShaaron Vogel, Butte CollegeNorv Wellsfry, Cosumnes River College

This standard says it all: “The institution effectively uses its human, physical, technology, and financial resources to achieve its broad educational purposes, including student learning outcomes, and to improve institutional effectiveness.” How does this happen? This portion of the self study should be chock full of evidence and critical analysis. If things aren’t going right on your campus, examine how these resources are allocated and fix it.

SLO Beginners Work Session — Going for a Test Drive: Designing Classroom and Program AssessmentsSan Marino

Facilitator: Bob Pacheco, Barstow CollegeAngela Caballero de Cordero, Allan Hancock CollegeGary Williams, Crafton Hills CollegeKaren Wong, Skyline College

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This session will provide participants with the opportunity to create assessments relevant to their institution at the course and program level. These draft assessments and assessment plans will be road-tested with other participants in the breakout in order to avoid blind curves and get collegial feedback. Come to this session prepared to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

SLO Advanced Work Session Road Test: Designing General Education and Institutional Assessments Monterey

Facilitator: Marcy Alancraig, Cabrillo CollegeScott Lee, Antelope Valley CollegeVirginia Moran, Victor Valley CollegeJanice Tomson, Long Beach City College

In this breakout attendees will develop General Education and institutional level assessment techniques. These draft assessment plans will be road tested with others in the breakout and colleagues will provide feedback. This mass transit assessment must be carefully planned and implemented because it has the potential to affect so many faculty and students. Where do you start and what will work on your campus? Come to this session ready to get this vehicle moving on your campus.

3:45 P.M. BREAk

4:00 P.m. oPtionAL evening SeSSion

A Private Universe International East

Facilitator: Janet Fulks, Bakersfield College

This session involves a short (20 minute) engaging film detailing a simple, casual assessment technique that revealed disappointing data at Harvard. After digging into the missing components of student and faculty knowledge, some fascinating discoveries were made about student learning. What do you do with data you don’t like or want to see? How do you correct obvious inaccuracies? The implications of pedagogical strategies portrayed in this film, over a person’s life, will surprise you.

6:00 P.m. hoSteD recePtionSan Gabriel

Come meet with your colleagues to discuss your dinner plans. A list of nearby restaurants can be found at the hotel’s front desk.

Dinner On Your Own Tonight

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3C

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Sunday, January 277:30 A.m. BreAkfASt BuffetInternational West

Room checkout is at 12:00 p.m. However, you are encouraged to check out during this time.

Urban Legends

9:00 A.M. GENERAL SESSION

Moving at the Limit: What Happens When Accreditation Works?International East

Facilitator: Angela Caballero de Cordero, Allan Hancock CollegeRichard Mahon, Riverside City CollegeLinda Umbdenstock, Long Beach City CollegeLynn Welch, San Joaquin Delta CollegeNorv Wellsfry, Cosumnes River College

Assessment and accreditation can allow you to slip into the car pool lane, flying past others who are stuck in traffic. Self evaluation based upon evidence can actually make good things happen in a powerful way. Examples of assessment and accreditation improving teaching and learning will be shared.

10:20 A.m. BreAk

10:30 A.m. generAL SeSSion

Exiting the Freeway: Applying the Lessons of the Road International East

Are you feeling overwhelmed with all the sights from the SLO and Accreditation Highway? Small groups will meet to reflect on what we’ve learned at the Institute and to make plans for how we can use the information to keep our colleges on the road. At the end of the session, there will be time for evaluations.

12:00 P.M. DISMISSAL

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2008 Accreditation Institute Presenters

2007-2008 Accreditation and SLO Committee

Barbara Anderson, Los Angeles Pierce CollegeBarbara Beno, ACCJCMark Wade Lieu, Academic Senate President, Ohlone CollegeRichard Mahon, Riverside City CollegeVirginia Moran, Victor Valley CollegeSue Mouck, Lassen CollegeTracy Schneider, Solano CollegeLinda Umbdenstock, Long Beach City CollegeShaaron Vogel, Butte CollegeLynn Welch, San Joaquin Delta College Norv Wellsfry, ACCJC, Cosumnes River CollegeKaren Wong, Skyline College

The Academic Senate and this year’s Accreditation and Student Learning Outcomes Committee would sincerely like to thank all the presenters who contributed to making this Institute a success.

Janet Fulks, Chair, Bakersfield CollegeMarcy Alancraig, Cabrillo Collegekenneth Bearden, Butte CollegeAngela Caballero de Cordero, Allan Hancock CollegeScott Lee, Antelope Valley CollegeBob Pacheco, Barstow CollegeJanice Tomson, Long Beach City CollegeGary Williams, Crafton Hills College

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