THE VISIT

BASIC PRINCIPLES

• Peer Evaluation• Standards-Based System• Relationship to Standards: compliance; substantial compliance; or non compliance

TYPES OF EVALUATIONS

• Year One Evaluation (off site)• Mid-Cycle Evaluation (on site)• Year Seven Evaluation (on site)• Ad Hoc Report• Financial Resources Review

PRE-VISIT ORGANIZATION MEETING(INITIAL ORGANIZING & PLANNING CHECK-IN)

• Understanding of the following days’ activities and process

• Areas of responsibility• Meeting changes/additions• Typically at 4pm at hotel (for on site)

DAY ONE – INTRODUCTORY MEETING (ON SITE)

• Generally breakfast at college• Led by president of college and chair of

committee• President welcomes and introduces staff• Chair greets and introduces evaluation

committee• Chair reviews process

DAY ONE – MEETINGS AND INTERVIEWS

• One-on-one meetings• Group meetings• All-campus meetings (year 7 only)

DAY ONE – COMMITTEE MEETING• Generally 4pm• Concise and brief reporting by members• Note exceptionally strong areas and areas

of concern• Initial discussion to identify concerns/

recommendations that may need additional follow up

• Discuss the next day’s activities

DAY TWO – MEETINGS AND INTERVIEWS

• Continuation of day one• There may be additions/changes to your

meeting schedule

DAY TWO – COMMITTEE MEETING

• Generally 4 pm• Decisions about Commendations and

Recommendations• Initial discussion regarding confidential

recommendation to the Commission

COMMENDATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS;COMPLIMENTS AND CONCERNS

(Handbook for Peer Evaluators, pgs. 18-20)

• A Commendation, enumerated at the end of peer evaluation report, is a laudatory statement ‐agreed upon by the committee.

• A Recommendation indicates that an institution is not in compliance with one or more accreditation criterion or that it is substantially in compliance with one or more accreditation criterion, but in need of improvement.

COMMENDATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS;COMPLIMENTS AND CONCERNS(Handbook for Peer Evaluators, pgs. 18-20)

• A Compliment is a congratulatory statement or noteworthy practice or achievement of an area within the institution and may or may not rise to the level of an institutional Commendation.

• A Concern is intended to be advisory to the institution to indicate that attention to the matter is warranted although it may or may not rise to the level of a Recommendation that requires immediate action.

Confidential Recommendation• Accreditation Status Recommended Action:– Reaffirm accreditation– Grant accreditation– Grant or continue candidacy– Deny accreditation or candidacy– Remove accreditation or candidacy

• Specific information regarding evaluation of recommendations from previous evaluation report

• Information about recommendations from current evaluation report

DAY THREE – EXIT MEETING

• Usually 10-15 minutes• President welcomes• Chair thanks• Chair explains process• Chair reads Commendations and

Recommendations

AFTER THE VISIT• Chair compiles sections; edits; sends draft #1 to the

committee for edits (generally one week)• Chair sends draft #2 to college, asking for correction

of facts (generally one week)• Chair provides final report along with confidential

recommendation to the Commission• Chair interfaces with Commission along with College

President/designee• Commission takes action regarding accreditation

status (meets twice a year)