Douglas A. Wymer

SACSCOC Second Draft Standard 15-Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

By Douglas A Wymer, Ph.D. The second draft of the proposed Principles of Accreditation is out and it does not disappoint. I stand by my original statement that there is a lot to like in the new standards. I was recently at the SACCR annual meeting and did a presentation focused on the first draftContinue reading “SACSCOC Second Draft Standard 15-Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes”

SACSCOC Second Draft Standard 5. Sound Institutional Planning

Are you on the right cycle?

Sorry it has been so long, I have been on a vacation then on a busy travel cycle… In higher education, and education in general, we are programmed to think in terms of the academic year. We offer classes in a fall semester followed by a spring semester, at least most of us. We assessContinue reading “Are you on the right cycle?”

Draft SACSCOC Standards-There is Something Afoot!

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 aContinue reading “Draft SACSCOC Standards-There is Something Afoot!”

There is a Disturbance in the Accrediverse

We have spoken with current clients, past clients, prospective clients, and fellow consultants over the past few months about the disturbance in the accrediverse. SACSCOC is re-writing their standards and the secondhand word from the SACSCOC Principles Review Committee is “radicle”. Last I heard the plan was to vote in December and there are supposedContinue reading “There is a Disturbance in the Accrediverse”

Are Accreditors Failing Students? Part 2

Last time we wrote about the claim that accreditors were failing students due to poor oversight of quality and outcomes. This time we will look at the other claims that accreditors are failing students due to misplaced focus on non-core metrics, the cost of the accreditation process, and permitting institutions to offer failing programs. I’mContinue reading “Are Accreditors Failing Students? Part 2”

Are Accreditors Failing Students?

This seems to be a common claim from today’s USDOE, citing poor oversight of quality and outcomes, misplaced focus on non-core metrics, the cost of the accreditation process, and permitting institutions to offer failing programs. Let’s unpack each of these over the next few posts. First, poor oversight of quality and outcomes. A focus onContinue reading “Are Accreditors Failing Students?”

Program Outcomes vs. Program Student Learning Outcomes

Sometimes faculty, program managers, and department chairs don’t understand the difference between these two very different types of outcomes. Nobody’s fault really, but knowing the distinction and knowing how to teach faculty about the differences is critical to an easier path to making a compelling case for compliance with a number of standards. First, StudentContinue reading “Program Outcomes vs. Program Student Learning Outcomes”

Let’s Talk About Online Platforms

As a teacher and then as an administrator I had worked with a few online platforms before I started consulting full-time early in 2020. You know these, they help manage the reporting on assessing student attainment of learning outcomes and administrative outcomes, they provide a template for your accreditation reports, and they may help manageContinue reading “Let’s Talk About Online Platforms”

How Difficult is Accreditation?

I was recently having a conversation with an institution President and a member of that institution’s Board and the President indicated that a reaffirmation “brings an institution to its knees.” I have thought about that statement quite a bit since then and, though I did not voice it then, I stick with my first thoughtContinue reading “How Difficult is Accreditation?”