Accreditation 101 - Insight into your self-study process. 

November 14, 2008

Presented by Deltha Shell

Today's presentation provides information about the method of how the self-study report should be written. 

Evaluative writing is different than descriptive writing, although some description is necessary to provide a context for evaluation.

Some challenges associated with Evaluative Writing:

• Avoiding honest but tough comparisons in an effort to avoid offending colleagues - or - asking hard questions!
• Citing something as a strength or weakness and contradicting it elsewhere.
• Failing to take a holistic view of boarder issues. 

The HLC's PEAQ (Program to Evaluate and Advance Quality) document entitled Evaluative Writing in the Self-Study offers excellent information about this subject. {This can be found in the HLC's Handbook of Accreditation}

The process of data selection is key to developing good evidence.  In selecting data one should choose what makes the best case for meeting a core component.  Questions to help:

Is the data....

relevant? 

credible?

compelling/effective?

Group work to demonstrate evaluation was done regarding two different "mugs" (or coffee cups). 

Small groups answered the question: "Would you choose to use this mug if it was in the kitchen cupboard at work?"  and they were to list three reasons why or why not.

This fieldwork exercise continued through a process of analyzing, comparing and evaluating a set of criterion about these mugs.  The exercise was an example of a process for evaluation using four steps:

1. fieldwork
2. analysis
3. plan
4. take new action

The same approach will need to be taken as we begin our own evaluation and self-study at Ozarka College. 

Deltha cited the following for her presentation:

http://www.ncahlc.org/

Central Ohio Technical College's Self Study Report

Useful phrases for evaluative writing

mug activity: health.vic.gov.au pdf

Any feedback or other information regarding evaluative writing???

Contact:

Deltha Shell at dshell@ozarka.edu 870-368-2034

-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.