MULTIPLE PRESPECTIVES ON UTILIZING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITATION TO

IMPROVE GLOBAL LEARNING

GS-062

Barry Morris, Ed Rugg, and Susan Sutton

Kennesaw State University & Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

http://vic.kennesaw.edu

Developing the global competenciesDeveloping the global competenciesof all university students is one ofof all university students is one of the most important educational the most important educational

imperatives of the 21imperatives of the 21stst century century.. But engaging the But engaging the

campus community in campus community in a comprehensive plan a comprehensive plan that elevates global that elevates global leaning to a top priority leaning to a top priority is a daunting challenge is a daunting challenge for many international for many international educators.educators.

KSUKSU leveraged its SACS leveraged its SACS reaccreditation to create a reaccreditation to create a

comprehensive 5-year plan to elevate comprehensive 5-year plan to elevate global learning to a top priorityglobal learning to a top priority

A highly praised A highly praised strategic, innovative and strategic, innovative and broad-based Quality broad-based Quality Enhancement Plan Enhancement Plan evolved: Global evolved: Global Learning for Engaged Learning for Engaged CitizenshipCitizenship

International EducatorsInternational Educators Take Note: Take Note:

SACS Accreditation Guidelines SACS Accreditation Guidelines for an Acceptable QEP Injected for an Acceptable QEP Injected Powerful Planning, Assessment Powerful Planning, Assessment and Accountability Frameworks and Accountability Frameworks for Improving Global Learningfor Improving Global Learning

andandReacceditation Commanded Reacceditation Commanded

Everyone’s AttentionEveryone’s Attention

Contrasting and Contrasting and Complementary Perspectives Complementary Perspectives

on the Topicon the Topic

Ed RuggEd Rugg An Experienced SACS Evaluator and KSU’s An Experienced SACS Evaluator and KSU’s

Accreditation LiaisonAccreditation Liaison

Susan SuttonSusan Sutton A Noted International Educator from Outside A Noted International Educator from Outside

the Southern Region andthe Southern Region and Lead Evaluator of KSU’s QEPLead Evaluator of KSU’s QEP

First, a Panel ConversationFirst, a Panel Conversation on 5 Key Dimensions for on 5 Key Dimensions for

Improving Global LearningImproving Global Learning

Please hold your Please hold your questions until questions until after the 5 after the 5 factors are factors are discussed by the discussed by the panelpanel

#1 Constructing a #1 Constructing a Comprehensive Five-Year PlanComprehensive Five-Year Plan

SACS-COC has a powerful QEP SACS-COC has a powerful QEP framework for constructing a framework for constructing a comprehensive plan for the comprehensive plan for the improvement of student learningimprovement of student learning

An international expert’s opinion An international expert’s opinion of the value of these guidelines of the value of these guidelines for improving global learning for improving global learning

#2#2 Building on KSU’s Strengths Building on KSU’s Strengths and Weaknesses in the Global and Weaknesses in the Global Learning for All AssessmentLearning for All Assessment

Global Learning for Engaged Global Learning for Engaged Citizenship picked up where the ACE Citizenship picked up where the ACE Global Learning for All assessment left Global Learning for All assessment left offoff

A Global Learning for All expert’s view A Global Learning for All expert’s view on the innovative and pioneering on the innovative and pioneering initiatives included in KSU’s initiatives included in KSU’s comprehensive plan comprehensive plan

#3 Clarifying the Plan’s Purpose,#3 Clarifying the Plan’s Purpose, Goals and Learning Outcomes Goals and Learning Outcomes

An international educator’s perspective An international educator’s perspective on KSU’s distinctive defintion of global on KSU’s distinctive defintion of global learning competencies learning competencies

A SACS evaluator’s perspective on the A SACS evaluator’s perspective on the differences between program outcomes differences between program outcomes and student learning outcomes and student learning outcomes

#4 Incorporating #4 Incorporating Multifaceted Assessment Multifaceted Assessment

StrategiesStrategies

Qualitative and quantitative, internal and external, formative and summative assessment strategies for program and learning outcomes

How international educators could be aided by an accreditor’s expectations for sound assessment

#5 Engaging Broad-Based #5 Engaging Broad-Based Campus ParticipationCampus Participation

How strong is the KSU campus community’s participation in the QEP, and would it be considered exceptional among international educators?

What is it about the accreditation process that commands so much attention to the improvement of student learning?

To Sum Up…To Sum Up…

Institutional accreditation can Institutional accreditation can provide a strong framework for provide a strong framework for comprehensive planning and comprehensive planning and assessment for the improvement assessment for the improvement of global learning, as well as of global learning, as well as strong motivation for broad-strong motivation for broad-based campus participation in based campus participation in internationalization.internationalization.

And Finally…And Finally…

Aided by accreditation, Aided by accreditation, construction of a focused, construction of a focused, comprehensive, broad-based and comprehensive, broad-based and detailed 5-year plan for detailed 5-year plan for internationalization requires internationalization requires substantial institutional effort, but substantial institutional effort, but can reap great rewards in one of can reap great rewards in one of the most important educational the most important educational imperatives of the 21imperatives of the 21stst century. century.

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

QUESTIONS AND QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ?COMMENTS ?

http://vic.kennesaw.edu

Evaluations for GS-062