Surviving a Decennial Reaccreditation During a Global Pandemic
Concurrent Session 5
Brief Abstract
Completing a decinnial reaffirmation process with an institutional accrediting body amidst a global pandemic can be quite the daunting endeavor. Successful strategies to maintain and document compliance with accreditation standards, particularly those focused on distance learning, during a major disruption of campus operations will be discussed in this engaging session.
Presenters
Extended Abstract
Universities and colleges that hold institutional (also known as regional) accreditation are required to reaffirm their accreditation on a consistent cycle (i.e. every 8 or 10 years). A normally daunting process made even more difficult over the last few years due to a global pandemic shaking up the operations and course offerings of universities and colleges across the country. During the reaffirmation process institutions are required to demonstrate compliance in a significant number of standards and although differences may exist in how the standards are defined, described and framed by each accrediting body there are general commonalities in the categories (i.e. educational effectiveness, student support, mission and goals, etc.). Every accrediting body has at least one, or more, standards focused on the quality of distance learning programs. More specifically, institutions need to demonstrate that the policies associated with, and the quality of, distance learning instruction is consistent with on-ground and in-person instruction. Before the COVID-19 pandemic institutions of higher education saw an increase in the range of non-traditional course and program offerings (e.g. hybrid, hyflex, multiaccess, and online) to meet the needs of students. The global pandemic heavily disrupted this trend by forcing institutions to shift most, if not all, of their course offerings to online modalities almost over night in order to maintain continuity of operations. Although this heavy shift was temporary, expectations to meet accreditation standards, regardless of where institutions were in the accreditation cycle did not change. Additionally, as institutions return to pre-pandemic operations significant variability in course and program modalities remain.
This session will cover strategies utilized by a small-private (<2,500 students) comprehensive university during their decennial reaffirmation process with one of the six main institutional accrediting bodies in 2022 to maintain and document compliance with more than 70 required standards. With particular emphasis placed on distance education related standards the presenters will cover strategies used to maintain and document compliance during significant challenges and disruptions in institutional operations due to the global pandemic. Some of the challenges to be discussed include maintaining forward progress in reaffirmation efforts despite overextended/stressed faculty and staff, capturing realtime data and information on temporary changes in policies and practices, and assuring consistency in capturing assessment and institutional effectiveness despite changes in operations. Examples of strategies employed include building a network of support of institutions in the same accreditation cycle, strategically focusing resources to increase monitoring of key standards, and identifying best practices in providing consistency in documenting compliance. Additionally, this session will cover how momentum was maintained in the development of a required Quality Enhancement Plan (sometimes known as a Quality Initiative) despite challenges in holding on campus meetings and piloting in-person portions of the plan/initiative.
Participants will engage in discussions around accreditation related challenges faced due to the global pandemic and brainstorm approaches to address those challenges with emphasis on distance learning related standards. Additionally, participants will have opportunities to network with other participants from institutions grouped by institutional accrediting body. This session will conclude with the development of an action plan participants can bring back to their institution assure they maintain and document compliance with accreditation standards.