Accreditation update

By Ethelynda Harding, Accreditation Liaison Officer
and John Shields, Accreditation Steering Committee Chair

California State University, Fresno is in the midst of its periodic accreditation review by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).   Under the new WASC procedures, the review is carried out in stages and is customized to the campus.   The next step in the process is the Preparatory Review, scheduled for November 19-21, 2003.

The Preparatory Review involves an evaluation of the extent to which the campus meets WASC Core Commitment 1:   "The institution functions with clear purposes, high levels of institutional integrity, fiscal stability, and organizational structures and processes to fulfill its purposes."   Our Preparatory Review Report regarding institutional capacity is based on a self-evaluative, reflective essay and a supporting electronic portfolio that was completed in August; it is available online at http://www.csufresno.edu/portfolio.

The other purpose of the Preparatory Review is to determine the extent to which the university is ready to undertake the Educational Effectiveness Review, which will include a self-study report due at the end of AY 2003-04 and a second site visit to campus by a WASC evaluation team in October 2004.   The Educational Effectiveness Review relates to WASC Core Commitment 2:   "The institution evidences clear and appropriate educational objectives and design at the institutional and program levels, and employs processes of review, including the collection and use of data, that assure the delivery of programs and learner accomplishments at a level of performance appropriate for the degree or certificate awarded."

In preparation for these accreditation activities, the campus held a "mock review" visit led by WASC Associate Cecilia Gray in early September.   During this trial run the visiting team met with many of the groups that we thought might be expected to talk with the WASC reviewers in November.   These included the President's Cabinet, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, the Accreditation Self-Study Steering Committee, College/School Deans, Department Chairs and Assessment Coordinators, the Academic Senate Executive Committee and Standing Committee Chairs, the Student Services Executive Team, Center/Institute Directors, Finance and Budget Officers, Community Relations liaisons, and Plant/Agricultural Operations personnel.

After a day of meetings, the "mock review" team members summarized their observations for the WASC Steering Committee.   They expressed confidence that our institutional capacity to be educationally effective is strong.   Their major recommendations regarding the next stage were:

• Ensure broad campus involvement in the accreditation self-study process.

• Further define specific research questions guiding the Educational Effectiveness review.

• Strengthen assessment of General Education.

• Be able to demonstrate that decisions made in academic and administrative units are based on conclusions drawn from data gathered through assessment activities.

A first attempt to define research questions was included in the Preparatory Review Report and can be found online at http://www.csufresno.edu/portfolio/Educational_Effectiveness_Review//EE_Plan.htm .   The WASC Steering Committee is now redefining specific research questions.   After the draft questions have been reviewed by elements of the campus community and further refined, each question will become the responsibility of a team of faculty, staff, administrators and other constituents who will gather information, including preexisting reports, and draft a several page document responding to that particular question.   The Educational Effectiveness Report will mainly consist of these documents along with an integrative summary discussion of the university's educational effectiveness.   Supporting documentation will be added to the present electronic portfolio.

You are encouraged to review the electronic portfolio; suggest questions to be included in the Educational Effectiveness review; and, especially, to participate in an educational effectiveness research team.   Please contact Lynda Harding lyndah@csufresno.edu or John Shields johnshi@csufresno.edu . Your ideas are welcome.