2010 Full Scale Institutional Accreditation Evaluation at UAA
The University of Alaska Anchorage has been continuously accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1974. Our accreditation through NWCCU has included our community campuses in Kenai, Kodiak, and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley since the merger in 1987. Prince William Sound Community College in Valdez is separately accredited by NWCCU.
Institutional accreditation is renewed through reaffirmation of accreditation on a regular cycle. UAA's next full-scale evaluation takes place in October 2010. While UAA has been in regular communication with NWCCU regarding new programs, organizational changes, and progress in areas such as assessment and general education, the efforts to prepare for this next full scale evaluation have begun.
UAA has volunteered, along with three other institutions in the region, to serve as a pilot institution in the development of new accreditation process. This new process will focus on UAA's mission attainment, rather than on compliance with standards. The new process will still result in a self study (although significantly shorter than previous self studies) and a site visit.
The Accreditation Steering Committee, with representation from academic and non-academic units, is leading this reaffirmation effort. The first step in this project is the development of several documents that will serve to describe UAA and its mission. Several draft documents have been developed to serve this purpose. After compiling considerable input from campus leadership groups (including faculty governance groups and administrative councils), these drafts have begun to be distributed to the broader university community for feedback. Input from individuals, and from departments and other formal committees, are invited on every aspect of these drafts.
These documents will help to direct significant efforts across the institution during this accreditation cycle and beyond. They are:
- Environmental Scan: This document is intended to describe the internal and external factors that affect UAA's mission or our ability to accomplish it. Add or comment on factors that affect the university, their impacts, and the potential university responses. Try to concentrate on broad factors that significantly affect our institution.
- Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILO's): There are two documents included related to Institutional Learning Outcomes. The first provides general context about the intent and the purpose of Institutional Learning Outcomes. Since outcomes, evidence, and assessment are all part of our accreditation and continuous improvement processes, the second document provides a proposed list of Institutional Learning Outcomes, along with example components of an assessment process for the proposed outcomes.
Suggestions regarding the outcomes themselves or any aspect of the assessment example are welcome. The links provide some important background materials used in the development of the example.
Accreditation Steering Committee Documents
Accreditation Steering Committee Roster (last updated October 30, 2008)
Accreditation Briefing PowerPoint Presentation (last updated August 29, 2008)
Environmental Scan for University Community Feedback (last updated October 3, 2008)
Institutional Learning Outcomes Narrative (last updated October 3, 2008)
Institutional Learning Outcomes Assessment Process Model (last up dated October 3, 2008)
All Three Draft Documents (Institutional Learning Outcomes Narrative, ILO Assessment Process Model, and Environmental Scan) (last updated October 30, 2008)
Contact information for Institutional Accreditation or the 2010 Full-Scale Evaluation and Site Visit:
Tom Miller, Assistant Provost Megan Carlson, Academic Project Specialist
786-1053/ aftpm@uaa.alaska.edu 786-1054/ anmac3@uaa.alaska.edu
Accreditation Faculty Co-Chairs
Debbie Sonberg, Assistant Professor of Computer Information and Office Systems (KPC),ifdgs@uaa.alaska.edu, 262-0355
Bogdan Hoanca, Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems (CBPP), hoanca@cbpp.uaa.alaska.edu, 786-4140
Susan Kalina, Professor of Russian and International Studies Chair (CAS), afsmk@uaa.alaska.edu, 786-4031
