Accreditation 101 - Insight into your self-study process. 

October 24, 2008

Presented by co-chairs:  Sandra Miller, Tracy Cone, and liaison, Ron Helm.

Sandra Miller gave an overview of Criterion Five by stating that Ozarka College - according to its mission - identifies its constituencies and serves them in ways both value.  Its constituencies is identified by a wide array of patrons & supporters:

1. Students
2. Community
3. Partners such as high schools
4. Civic organizations
5. Faculty
6. Staff
7. Administration
8. Board of Trustees
9. Foundation Board

Miller further breaks down this Criterion into its core components and gives examples of evidence for Ozarka:

Component 5a: "The organization learns from the constituencies it serves and analyzes its capacity to serve their needs and expectations."

• The organization's commitments are shaped by its mission and its capacity to support those commitments. CCSSE
• The organization practices periodic environmental scanning to understand the changing needs of its constituencies and their communities. Advisory Boards
• The organization demonstrates attention to the diversity of the constituencies it serves. Grants
• The organization's outreach programs respond to identified community needs. Kids Academy
• In responding to external constituencies, the organization is well-served by programs such as continuing education, outreach, customized training, and extension services. self-evident

Component 5b:  "The organization has the capacity and the commitment to engage with its identified constituencies and communities."

• The organization's structures and processes enable effective connections with its communities. campus calendar
• The organization's co-curricular activities engage students, staff, administrators, and faculty with external communities. PTK Drives
• The organization's educational programs connect students with external communities. Nursing clinicals
• The organization's resources—physical, financial, and human—support effective programs of engagement and service. facilities
• Planning processes project ongoing engagement and service. planning manual

Component 5c:  "The organization demonstrates its responsiveness to those constituencies that depend on it for service."

• Collaborative ventures exist with other higher learning organizations and education sectors (e.g., K-12 partnerships, articulation arrangements, 2+2 programs). Partners in Care
• The organization's transfer policies and practices create an environment supportive of the mobility of learners. TRiO transfer trips
• Community leaders testify to the usefulness of the organization’s programs of engagement. Tree City USA
• The organization's programs of engagement give evidence of building effective bridges among diverse communities. Big Read grant
• The organization participates in partnerships focused on shared educational, economic, and social goals. NCARED
• The organization's partnerships and contractual arrangements uphold the organization’s integrity. Bidding Process

Component 5d: "Internal and external constituencies value the services the organization provides."

• The organization's evaluation of services involves the constituencies served. Continuing Education evaluations
• Service programs and student, faculty, and staff volunteer activities are well-received by the communities served. parades & fairs
• The organization's economic and workforce development activities are sought after and valued by civic and business leaders. active on Economic Development Boards
• External constituents participate in the organization's activities and co-curricular programs open to the public. Spring Gala, Golf Tournament, etc.
• The organization's facilities are available to and used by the community. Campus Newsletter
• The organization provides programs to meet the continuing education needs of licensed professionals in its community. Continuing Education offerings.

Groups were then formed and assigned each core component.  The groups each brainstormed even more examples for each part of their core component, giving Ozarka's evidence, if it is documented and where, and who is knowledgeable.

If you can think of examples of evidence for these core components, get them to the Criterion Five committee chairs via email!

Sandra Miller, smiller@ozarka.edu 870-368-2052

Tracy Cone, tcone@ozarka.edu 870-368-2042

Ron Helm, rhelm@ozarka.edu 870-368-2027

-or- the Self-Study Co-Chairs:

Joan Stirling, jstirling@ozarka.edu 870-368-2007

Joanna Fulbright, jfulbright@ozarka.edu 870-368-2064

Comments or suggestions to improve this newsletter to Communication co-chairs:

Kim Whitten, kwhitten@ozarka.edu 870-368-2060

Libby Cone, lcone@ozarka.edu 870-368-2002.