MSU Accreditation 2006

OPEN MEETINGS ON MSU ACCREDITATION
            Join members of the HLC Steering Committee for discussions on themes and topics related to MSU's accreditation.
Place:  CSU 123 (the glassed-in room to the left of The Hub)
Times and themes:

•             Wed., April 27, 2 pm: The Distinctive Organization--Mission and Assessment
•             Thurs., April 28, noon: The Future-Oriented Organization--Planning and Strategic Priorities
•             Fri., April 29, 11 am: The Learning-Centered Organization--Learning and Research
•             Wed., May 4, 2 pm: The Connected Organization--Engagement and Service

Conference presentations by Olson, Ross, Sandmann, Lipetzky, Pellett, Sandmann, Malakar, and Zubairi.

DISTANCE LEARNING TASK FORCE HOLDS OPEN  MEETINGS ON DISTANCE LEARNING PLAN

Larsson, Roca, Akey, Brauer, Mertens, Syed, and Weiss attended a day-long workshop on the new HLC Criteria at the Holiday Inn Select in Bloomington.  Warren Sandmann was also a session leader, focusing on Criterion 3: Student Learning and Teaching

Stewart Ross, the Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and a member of the Steering Committee makes the following announcement:

"It is with great excitement and honor that I report to you that our CETL was just notified . . . that we have been selected to do a full presentation on the success of our Center at the 2005 Higher Learning Commission Conference in Chicago in early April. We will be given 45 minutes to explain the development of our initiatives and how they are transforming MSU . . . This is terrific publicity for our Center and for the University. Thank you for your continued support . . . Only three colleges were selected to present a full session on their success story and we are one of those three! Congratulations to all of you for your insight in supporting faculty development at MSU!"

The Steering Committee is collecting Mission Statements, Goal Statements, Vision Statements, etc. in support of Criterion 1: Mission & Integrity.  A beginning list of web-accessible statements can be found here
If we missed an online statement from your department or unit, please let us know right away where the URL can be found email Don Larsson

Steering Committee members are sharing impressions and gathering feedback from Dr. Appleson's visit yesterday.  Don Larsson and Joan Roca are looking at specific suggestions made by Dr. Appleson during his visit.  Some of the points stressed in different meetings were

• The Self-Study should be evaluative, not just descriptive
• The Self-Study should focus on results
• Sections of the Self-Study should include summary lists of Strengths, Concerns, and Issues for the Future in relation to the Criteria and Components

If you would like to offer comments on Dr. Appleson's visit or the issues raised in these meetings, please email Don Larsson, Joan Roca, or your representative to the Steering Committee

PHASE I INTERVIEWS BEING CONDUCTED
Subcommittees will be interviewing senior administrators and FA leadership this week to gather responses and information regarding the HLC Criteria and Components.  Phase II will begin in another week or two, as subcommittees meet with Deans, campus committees, task forces and other groups.

CITIZENS LEAGUE TASK FORCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO RELEASE REPORT
The report on higher education in Minnesota commissioned by Governor Pawlenty will be released to the public on Nov. 9.  The League will also be holding its annual public meeting on November 17.  For details, see the League's webpage

FIRST CAMPUS REPORTS USING NEW CRITERIA POSTED
Drafts and some complete reports of the first campuses to seek accreditation or reaccreditation under the new HLC Criteria are now available online.  Go to Links and click on campuses that are being visited in the 2004-2005 academic year to learn more