O F F I C E O F I N S T I T U T I O N A L E F F E C T I V E N E S S

SACSCOCREAFFIRMATION OF ACCREDITATION

SACSCOC

What is SACSCOC?Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – Commission on Colleges (800+ institutions in SE US & Caribbean/Mexico)

Why does it matter?Regional accreditation gatekeeper for all Federal financial aid; recognition by peers for transfer of credit; 97 standards/principles for minimal best practices

What does it expect?Policies/procedures consistent with 97 principles and evidence of following same; continuous improvement (CI) in all aspects of the university; Quality Enhancement Plan focused on student learning

REAFFIRMATION OF ACCREDITATIONCLASS OF 2016

When does this occur?• June 2014 – Orientation Session in Atlanta

• Now-Sept 2015 – Compilation of Narrative covering 97 Principles

• June 2014-Jan 2016 – Develop Student Learning Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

• Sept 2015 – Narrative submitted

• Oct 2015 – Off-Site Committee review Narrative

• Jan 2016 – Focus Reports response to Off-Site review

• Jan 2016 – QEP submitted

• Mar-Apr 2016 – 3-Day On-Site Committee visit TBA

• June 2016 – Response to On-Site review

• Dec 2016 – SACSCOC votes on Reaffirmation

• Jan 2017 – Official letter from SACSCOC

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

What do we need to do?• Demonstrate all of Rice is engaged in process of Continuous

Improvement (CI)

• ROAR – Rice Outcomes Assessment Reports by all Academic & Nonacademic units

• Nonacademic units are well managed and demonstrate CI

• Systematic approach to CI is relatively new to Academic units

• Academic units focus on knowledge/skills and CI of student learning

• OIE Survey Support (Qualtrics) assists CI for all units

• OIE Strengthen Our Programs (SOP) assists Academic units in CI regarding curriculum and student learning

John M. Cornwell, Ph.D.Associate Vice President

cornwell@rice.eduExt. 3227

Angela Powell Thompson, MS, MBASurvey Administrator and Analyst

apthompson@rice.eduExt. 5377

Office of Institutional Effectivenessoie.rice.edu

Casey H. Akins, MSDirector, Academic Program Effectiveness

cakins@rice.eduExt. 2064