Asking a colleague or classmate to review an assignment before turning it in is time-honored tradition in scholarly circles.
Today Case Western Reserve is asking the campus community to do the same with draft “assurance arguments” the university will make to the organization charged to assess its quality, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The arguments address five separate criteria: Mission, Integrity, Teaching and Learning (which includes two criteria: one involving “learning, quality, resources and support” and the other “evaluation and improvement”) and Resources, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness. All of the criteria also include multiple components, each of which the university must address.
The draft arguments can be found at case.edu/provost/accreditation/. A university user ID and password is required to access the actual drafts. In order for comments to be considered for inclusion in the final versions to be submitted to the HLC, they must be received no later than Friday, Feb. 27.
“We want to present the strongest possible case to our accrediting body,” explained Donald Feke, vice provost for undergraduate education. “One of the best ways to strengthen our documents is to hear recommendations for improvement from our community.”
In addition to requiring these arguments, the commission seeks feedback from the public and the campus community regarding the university. Earlier this year, Feke emailed all undergraduate, graduate and professional students with an online link to a survey the HLC provides to hear directly from them regarding the university’s offerings. Case Western Reserve also published advertisements in local newspapers inviting public comment, and provided a link to details about how the public—and any member of the Case Western Reserve community—can submit written observations to the commission. This notice can be found at case.edu/provost/accredcomment/.
Case Western Reserve has been accredited by the HLC since 1967. Every 10 years, the university participates in a comprehensive review of its academic offerings, governance and administration processes, finances, and resources. Along with the written submissions and public comments, the HLC also gathers information through a site visit by a team composed of individuals from other colleges and universities within the HLC. Case Western Reserve’s visit begins Monday, April 13, and concludes Tuesday, April 14. As part of that visit, members will meet with administrators, faculty, staff and community leaders. In addition, the team will hold an open session for university constituents to offer their own thoughts in person. More details about that visit will be shared later this spring.
For now, Feke asks members of the university community with interest in the accreditation process to review the draft assurance arguments posted at case.edu/provost/accreditation and offer suggestions via the response form found on that webpage.
Those who want to learn more about the HLC’s standards and the review process can find more information at ncahlc.org/Criteria-Eligibility-and-Candidacy/criteria-and-core-components.html.