Insights and Lessons from Kennesaw State

University’s Reaffirmation in 2007

Ed RuggKSU’s Accreditation Liaison

Reaffirmation Reports Editor & Visit CoordinatorInstitutional Effectiveness Director

“Survivor” of the Class of 2007 & 16 Yrs as VPAA

http://sacs.kennesaw.edu

About Kennesaw State UniversityAbout Kennesaw State University

Public University of 20,000 Public University of 20,000 Students (COC Level 5)Students (COC Level 5)

Located in Metropolitan Atlanta Located in Metropolitan Atlanta GeorgiaGeorgia

Comprehensive, Bachelor’s to Comprehensive, Bachelor’s to the Doctoratethe Doctorate

Day, Night & Weekend Day, Night & Weekend Programs, Limited Distance Programs, Limited Distance EducationEducation

Young, Fast Growing,Young, Fast Growing,

Heavily NontraditionalHeavily Nontraditional NCAA Div I (Football Maybe)NCAA Div I (Football Maybe)

KSU’s Compliance CertificationKSU’s Compliance Certification

Several Minor and Manageable Several Minor and Manageable Recs from theRecs from the

Off-site Review (Yes, 3.7.1 was Off-site Review (Yes, 3.7.1 was one on that list)one on that list)

No Institutional Effectiveness No Institutional Effectiveness Recs fromRecs from

Off-site Review (Yeah!!)Off-site Review (Yeah!!) No On-site Compliance Issues No On-site Compliance Issues

After Focused ReportAfter Focused Report Two minor recs on the QEP, Two minor recs on the QEP,

satisfied by KSU’s Responsesatisfied by KSU’s Response

KSUKSU leveraged its SACS-COC leveraged its SACS-COC reaffirmation to create a reaffirmation 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 strategic, innovative and broad-based and broad-based Quality Enhancement Quality Enhancement Plan evolved: Global Plan evolved: Global Learning for Engaged Learning for Engaged CitizenshipCitizenship

David Carter’s ChargeDavid Carter’s Charge

What three major What three major pieces of advice pieces of advice would you give would you give leadership teams leadership teams as they begin the as they begin the reaffirmation reaffirmation process?process?

Be Sure You Know How to Play the ComplianceGameSuccessfully

Tips on How to PlayTips on How to Play Learn from your experienced peer Learn from your experienced peer

evaluators how compliance is validated evaluators how compliance is validated and what may be the institution’s and what may be the institution’s greatest challenges greatest challenges

Interpret every key phrase in each Interpret every key phrase in each requirement or standard literally and requirement or standard literally and document document current compliancecurrent compliance with each with each of those in a thorough mannerof those in a thorough manner

You make the case for compliance—You make the case for compliance—don’t expect the evaluators to dig for don’t expect the evaluators to dig for data and do the analysis for youdata and do the analysis for you

More Tips on the GameMore Tips on the Game Compliance with some requirements takes Compliance with some requirements takes

substantial lead time and groundwork to substantial lead time and groundwork to document—you should have started document—you should have started yesterday or years agoyesterday or years ago

Once the QEP topic is selected, expect to Once the QEP topic is selected, expect to work diligently for at least 12 months on the work diligently for at least 12 months on the construction of all required elements of an construction of all required elements of an acceptable Plan, building in time for broad-acceptable Plan, building in time for broad-based campus engagement and On-site visit based campus engagement and On-site visit preparationpreparation

Make it easy and comfortable for the Make it easy and comfortable for the evaluators to validate your documented evaluators to validate your documented assertions of compliance assertions of compliance

Treat Compliance As a Team SportThat Requires Substantial SkillAnd Finesse toScore a Victory

Needed Skill & FinesseNeeded Skill & Finesse

Clear and persuasive writing skills are Clear and persuasive writing skills are essentialessential

Effective argumentation and analysis are Effective argumentation and analysis are vital vital

Creative problem-solving ability is an assetCreative problem-solving ability is an asset Sophisticated technical support is very Sophisticated technical support is very

importantimportant Timeliness and responsiveness are valuedTimeliness and responsiveness are valued Providing creature comforts countProviding creature comforts count

Devise and Executea Winning Game Plan To Overcome theBig Challengesof Compliance

KSU’s Winning Game KSU’s Winning Game PlanPlan

Reflections on what worked well for Reflections on what worked well for Compliance CertificationCompliance Certification

Key factors in demonstrating Key factors in demonstrating compliance in Institutional compliance in Institutional EffectivenessEffectiveness

Understanding the distinctions Understanding the distinctions between program and learning between program and learning outcomesoutcomes

Key dimensions of a strong QEPKey dimensions of a strong QEP

Final TipFinal Tip

EffectiveEffective

Presidential Presidential Involvement Involvement and and Leadership Leadership are Invaluableare Invaluable

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

QUESTIONS AND QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ?COMMENTS ?

http://sacs.kennesaw.edu