As I recently shared with a Provost who had just been named the next institutional President, “You’ve got the tiger by the tail now!” But seriously, congratulations on working your way into the role of the IE Director for your institution (especially you Alison!). So, what do you do now? Don’t re-invent the wheel. Look.Continue reading “New to the IE Director role? Hah, now you’ve done it!”
Author Archives: Douglas A. Wymer
Building a Three-Year Baccalaureate Degree
SACSCOC recently published a Position Statement on the three-year baccalaureate degree. You can find that here. The document is an interesting read and offers guidance to SACSCOC institutions who seek to develop and offer a three-year baccalaureate degree, while cautioning institutions to take each step carefully. This Position Statement discusses different approaches that don’t removeContinue reading “Building a Three-Year Baccalaureate Degree”
Can AI Write Your Report on Student Attainment of Learning Outcomes?
Paraphrasing the standard: The institution will identify student learning outcomes for each program, assess the extent to which students attain those outcomes, and will use the data to inform changes seeking improvement in student learning. I was recently reviewing a student learning outcomes report from a faculty member at one of my client institutions. TheContinue reading “Can AI Write Your Report on Student Attainment of Learning Outcomes?”
Maximizing ROI on assessment processes in in the BAG
We all get a feeling of satisfaction from meeting a goal we have set for ourselves and, when it comes down to it, this looks good on paper. Maybe that paper is your C.V., maybe it is the series of ridiculous screens of questions that accompany most higher education job applications these days, maybe thatContinue reading “Maximizing ROI on assessment processes in in the BAG”
Worst Practices
So much of what you read about accreditation, or anything for that matter, focuses on best practices. Best practices for assessing student attainment of learning outcomes. Best practices for institutional strategic planning. Best practices for accreditation. All of that is important and valuable, but equally (or perhaps more) valuable is knowing what not to do. WhileContinue reading “Worst Practices”
Assessment Academy
Somehow November just snuck on past without a post. Sorry about that. I have been working on a new idea that I am excited to write about. Assessing student attainment of learning outcomes is a common point of pain for institutions and most find themselves on the “non-compliant” side of things at some point asContinue reading “Assessment Academy”
Proposed Changes for SACSCOC
SACSCOC institutions recently received an email indicating that there will be a vote in December 2023 on proposed changes to The Principles of Accreditation. Approximately a year ago these proposed changes were circulated to the membership and included changes to the principles and changes to the Resource Manual. This more recent communication only included changesContinue reading “Proposed Changes for SACSCOC”
What is an institution to do with 14.5?
Just the other day I answered a question about 14.5 and thought that it would make a good post. Then the same question popped up on one of the accreditation email lists with some excellent advice. Made me wonder if I needed to write it, but since I do regularly get questions on 14.5… UsuallyContinue reading “What is an institution to do with 14.5?”
Accreditation reports are just like vacations. No, really!
Having just returned from vacation and having just completed a conversation with a friend about to leave on one, I was reflecting that the events of a vacation closely mirror those of writing an accreditation report. I do realize that many of you are not nerds about accreditation like I am, but bear with me.Continue reading “Accreditation reports are just like vacations. No, really!”
What do you do when a review committee gets it wrong?
Review committees come in all shapes and sizes and individual reviewers are somewhere on the spectrum between first-time team members and people who have been on more review committees than can be conveniently counted. The expectation that review committees get it right all the time is unrealistic so let’s talk about best practices when aContinue reading “What do you do when a review committee gets it wrong?”