First, yes, I do know that SACSCOC will become “The Commission on Colleges and Universities” or more simply, “The Commission” on September 1.
There is a lot to like in the draft standards and a few things that institutions need to be aware of. There has been considerable streamlining in the new standards and a sizable reduction in the number of standards. There is a crosswalk floating around that somebody has put together that mates the current requirements with the new requirements, but I think that is premature. First, the crosswalk appears to fit all 70+ current standards into the 31 draft standards and I’m not sure that is the intent. Once we have the Resource Manual we will have a better idea of what the new requirements are. I suspect that some of the current standards will simply go away rather than be represented in the new requirements.
So what do I like? Planning and Effectiveness are all together. Requirements that were scattered across sections 7 and 8 are combined in one place. I have wished for that for a long time. Hard quantitative requirements are gone from GenEd and Program Length, making the way easier for the reduced-credit baccalaureate. GenEd learning outcomes and Program Outcomes are combined. There are other things I like, but these come easiest to mind.
What about the things institutions need to be aware of? There is a requirement for a three-year financial plan, but we don’t yet know if that is a static or rolling three year plan. See what I mean about waiting on the Resource Manual? All of the ongoing planning and evaluation standards have moved continuous improvement to the head of the line, likely shifting the focus from process to results. Program Content will require documentation of a logical progression of higher-order thinking. We may need to rethink those squishy baccalaureate leadership programs with no prerequisites and little structure. Review of program competencies and the programs themselves through the lens of workforce need will be a required element. There are more, but this will get us started. I will focus the blog on these ideas in the coming months, but everything will be a guess until we get the new Resource Manual.
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