bob knipe's presentation on accreditation and dl: what ever dl director should know

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Accreditation & Distance Learning:Accreditation & Distance Learning:What every DL professional needs to knowWhat every DL professional needs to know

Bob KnipeBob Knipe

Dean of Learning TechnologiesDean of Learning Technologies

Genesee Community CollegeGenesee Community College

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Accreditation TypesAccreditation Types

InstitutionalInstitutional6 regional accrediting bodies6 regional accrediting bodies - in our - in ourcase, Middle Statescase, Middle States

State authorizing agency State authorizing agency (in our case,(in our case,SUNY / NYSED)SUNY / NYSED)

Program orProgram or

discipline-specificdiscipline-specific

(specialized) (specialized) professionalprofessional

accreditationaccreditation

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Institutional accreditationInstitutional accreditation

Verification of institutional qualityVerification of institutional qualityassuranceassurance

Periodic (10-year, 5-year)Periodic (10-year, 5-year)

AccountabilityAccountability

Professional and collegialProfessional and collegial

RegionalRegional

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Accreditation & Distance LearningAccreditation & Distance Learning

Old paradigm:Old paradigm:““Show us youShow us you’’re re reallyreally doing what doing whatyou you saysay you you’’re doing.re doing.””

New paradigm:New paradigm:““What youWhat you’’re doing should be w/inre doing should be w/inyour own mission, culture &your own mission, culture &institutional procedures, but shouldinstitutional procedures, but shouldalso follow these guidelines.also follow these guidelines.””

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Accreditation & Accreditation & DistanceDistance Learning Learning

Old Standards: Old Standards: Distance LearningDistance LearningPrograms: Interregional Guidelines forPrograms: Interregional Guidelines forElectronically Offered Degree and CertificateElectronically Offered Degree and CertificatePrograms Programs (2002)(2002)

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New Standards:New Standards:Characteristics of Excellence in Higher EducationCharacteristics of Excellence in Higher Education(2006-09) (2006-09) Standard 13 - Standard 13 - ““Related EducationalRelated EducationalActivities: Distance or Distributed LearningActivities: Distance or Distributed Learning””http://www.msche.org/publications/CHX06_Aug08REVMarch09.pdfhttp://www.msche.org/publications/CHX06_Aug08REVMarch09.pdf

Characteristics of Excellence in Higher EducationCharacteristics of Excellence in Higher EducationStd. 10 (Faculty), Std. 11 (Educ. Offerings),Std. 10 (Faculty), Std. 11 (Educ. Offerings),Std.14 (Assessment of Student Learning)Std.14 (Assessment of Student Learning)

+ other Standards + other Standards

Team Visits: Conducting and Hosting anTeam Visits: Conducting and Hosting anEvaluation Visit Evaluation Visit –– Appendix 10, Appendix 10, Guidelines forReviewing Distance Education Programs& Appendix 11Appendix 11

•• http://www.msche.org/publications/Team-Visits-2009-FINAL2.pdfhttp://www.msche.org/publications/Team-Visits-2009-FINAL2.pdf

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Standards:Standards:

Demonstrate meeting comparableDemonstrate meeting comparableacademic standards / SLOsacademic standards / SLOs

Continuity & continuationContinuity & continuation

Legal & regulatory complianceLegal & regulatory compliance

Partner/vendor integrity & facultyPartner/vendor integrity & facultyvalidationvalidation

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Standards:Standards:

Appropriate student resources & supportAppropriate student resources & supportservicesservices

Appropriate faculty training, support &Appropriate faculty training, support &technologytechnology

Assessment & quality improvementAssessment & quality improvement

Documentation (Documentation (datadata datadata data data datadata))

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The The substantive changesubstantive change clause: howclause: howmuch DL delivery is substantive?much DL delivery is substantive?

>>50% of courses leading to degree or50% of courses leading to degree orcertificate are delivered via DLcertificate are delivered via DL

http://www.msche.org/documents/6B---6-SubstantiveChange_4_.pdfhttp://www.msche.org/documents/6B---6-SubstantiveChange_4_.pdf

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Substantive change Substantive change usually requires ausually requires achange in mission statement, which shouldchange in mission statement, which shouldinclude reference to distance learning orinclude reference to distance learning oralternative program deliveryalternative program delivery

Substantive change Substantive change ramps up institutionalramps up institutionalcommitment tocommitment to

Student support servicesStudent support services

Business processesBusiness processes

Institutional expectation of whatInstitutional expectation of what’’s a collegials a collegialexperienceexperience

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Regional accreditation commissionsRegional accreditation commissions’’ acceptance of acceptance ofother standardsother standards: : models includemodels include

NY State Department of Education/SUNY:NY State Department of Education/SUNY:http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/ded/http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/ded/

AQIP: AQIP: http://www.aqip.orghttp://www.aqip.org (North Central Assoc.)(North Central Assoc.)

Western Governors University:Western Governors University:http://wgu.edu/index.htmlhttp://wgu.edu/index.html

Council for Adult & Experiential Learning:Council for Adult & Experiential Learning:http://www.cael.orghttp://www.cael.org

Many others!Many others!

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Regional accreditorsRegional accreditors’’““Best PracticesBest Practices”” include: include:

Substantive & coherent curricula whichSubstantive & coherent curricula whichdefine & track student learning outcomesdefine & track student learning outcomes

Learning is dynamic & interactiveLearning is dynamic & interactive(regardless of setting or delivery)(regardless of setting or delivery)

Institutional support of studentsInstitutional support of students’’academic successacademic success

Assessment & improvementAssessment & improvement

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Components:Components:

Institutional Context & CommitmentInstitutional Context & Commitment

Curriculum & InstructionCurriculum & Instruction

Faculty SupportFaculty Support

Student SupportStudent Support

Evaluation & AssessmentEvaluation & Assessment

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Institutional Context & CommitmentInstitutional Context & Commitment

Consistent with role & missionConsistent with role & missionAware of substantive change implicationsAware of substantive change implicationsBudget, policy, goal statements reflectBudget, policy, goal statements reflectcommitmentcommitmentStaffing, technology, facilities adequateStaffing, technology, facilities adequateOrganizational structure reflects commitmentOrganizational structure reflects commitmentBased on outcomes not deliveryBased on outcomes not deliveryConsistent, coherent technology frameworkConsistent, coherent technology frameworkStudent technology supportStudent technology supportTechnology choices based on appropriatenessTechnology choices based on appropriatenessLegal & regulatory requirements accommodatedLegal & regulatory requirements accommodated

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Curriculum & InstructionCurriculum & Instruction

Equivalent college-level outcomes &Equivalent college-level outcomes &including general educationincluding general education

Qualified academics makeQualified academics makedecisionsdecisions

Uniform & clearly communicatedUniform & clearly communicatedstudent accessstudent access

Consortial or contracted elementsConsortial or contracted elementsare consistent with institutionare consistent with institution

Appropriate interaction is reflectedAppropriate interaction is reflectedin design & deliveryin design & delivery

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Faculty SupportFaculty Support

Workload, compensation & ownershipWorkload, compensation & ownershipissues are addressedissues are addressed

Technology, instructional design,Technology, instructional design,production support are providedproduction support are provided

Faculty & staff training & professionalFaculty & staff training & professionaldevelopment are provideddevelopment are provided

Quality assurance processes in placeQuality assurance processes in place

Training for all who work with studentsTraining for all who work with students

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Student SupportStudent Support

Institutional commitment is sufficient toInstitutional commitment is sufficient totime necessary for degree completiontime necessary for degree completion

Pre-admission screening as appropriatePre-admission screening as appropriate

Thorough student information &Thorough student information &orientation are providedorientation are provided

Student support services in place Student support services in place **

Institution recognizes and imparts Institution recognizes and imparts ““sensesenseof communityof community”” among distant students among distant students

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Student Support Services *Student Support Services *(including business processes)(including business processes)

Timely, accurateTimely, accurateinstitutional informationinstitutional information

AdvisingAdvising

AdmissionsAdmissions

Placement testingPlacement testing

Financial aid info andFinancial aid info andprocessesprocesses

PaymentPayment

BookstoreBookstore

Academic information /Academic information /degree auditsdegree audits

Academic interventionAcademic intervention

TutoringTutoring

Career counseling &Career counseling &placementplacement

Library: access, reference,Library: access, reference,instruction, reservesinstruction, reserves

InfoLit trainingInfoLit training

Tech support / helpdeskTech support / helpdesk

DisabilityDisabilityaccommodationsaccommodations

CounselingCounseling

Grievance proceduresGrievance procedures

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AssessmentAssessment

Consistency of SLOs across modalitiesConsistency of SLOs across modalities

Assessment of student learning in eachAssessment of student learning in eachcourse and at program completioncourse and at program completion

Testing integrity & security areTesting integrity & security areaddressed addressed (See new HEA § 600.9 - State Authorization)

Security of student personal informationSecurity of student personal information

Overall program effectiveness isOverall program effectiveness isaddressed *addressed *

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* Overall program effectiveness addressed* Overall program effectiveness addressed

Student learning matches identified outcomes inStudent learning matches identified outcomes inmajor and in general educationmajor and in general educationCompletion & retention rates (incl. over time)Completion & retention rates (incl. over time)Student satisfactionStudent satisfactionFaculty satisfactionFaculty satisfactionNew access provided to underserved?New access provided to underserved?Library & learning resources used adequatelyLibrary & learning resources used adequatelyStudent competencies measured in communication,Student competencies measured in communication,comprehension, analysis skillscomprehension, analysis skillsCost-effectiveness to students, compared to campus-Cost-effectiveness to students, compared to campus-based programbased program

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Thank youThank you……Thank you very much.Thank you very much.

rg knipe@ genesee.edurg knipe@ genesee.edu