Notes on NWCCU’s Evaluation of WVC’s Year Three Report

Standard #1:

  • Visitors liked their format, could relate the report back to the standards easily. NORMA
  • Board’s End statements were revised, mapping them to CTs. NORMA i.e. alignment
  • Mission fulfillment: 2 major indicators---student success and community engagement JOE
  • Tight alignment of CTs with mission. 7 CTs mapped onto every part of missionNORMA/JOE/CO
  • Commended for clear definition and intentional indicators demonstrating fulfillment of theme/mission. ACCREDITATIONCOMMITTEE
  • Commended: CT #1=Transfer/Liberal Ed. Indicators are 1) retention and 2) completion rate of students in transfer courses/programs which relate to getting students to transfer. JOE!

Standard #2:

  1. Evaluators recognized budget woes and reminded leadership to develop long-term plans which are fiscally sustainable and still maintain effective programs/services. PSET
  1. Explain turnovers in mid-level administrators & leadership. Concern for stability. STEPHEN
  2. College polices available to student s in HR office. STEPHEN.
  3. Academics: Library policies documented, published, enforced KEN
  4. Types of courses not accepted for transfer on website TONYA
  5. Students: Staff who handle policies are identified. TONYA
  6. Guide for student media needs to be available as well as any Booster clubs: DOUG/TONYA
  7. HR:Evaluation and termination processes on intranet. STEPHEN
  8. Institutional Integrity: list policies academic freedom, religious/political activities STEPHEN/JOHN
  9. Academic Freedom: policies consistent with NWCCU standards JOHN
  10. Financial: policies in place, some by OFM but others like issuance of debt needed locally DARYL
  11. HR: Explain how loss of personnel impacts stability/effectiveness & remedies STEPHEN
  12. HR: avoid variance in eval. of personnel, keep eval review periods published & updated STEPHEN
  13. Looks at Prof development opportunities for ALL staff/faculty STEPHEN
  14. Reviews eval system for faculty and part-time faculty JOHN
  15. Ed Resource: SLOs defined for all courses, programs, degrees:JOHN/DEANS/TONYA/DIRECTORS
  16. Degree-level SLOs tied to Gen Ed core abilities DEANS
  17. Faculty-led Assessment Committee JOHN
  18. Faculty work closely with library staff; lib staff provide training for faculty/students KENNY
  19. Transfer of credit review by registrar TONYA
  20. CE: in response to community interests and needs; faculty involvement in the planning and evaluation of CE offerings; CE records maintained & submitted to state DAVE
  1. ABE: records kept re number and nature of offerings and submitted to state BILL
  2. Student Support Services: Evaluators focused on DL; insufficient fac dev and no assessment of student preparedness to be successful in online environments. ANN/KENNY
  3. The College has not had any teach-out problems or issues, nor does a policy exist, …??JOHN
  4. Fin AID: students take online counseling course and mastery test before applying for loan TED
  5. ATHLETICS: Clear explanation of how athletics funded, grants, esp Booster Club role DOUG/TONYA
  6. LIB: new director, stability under transformation, cutbacks, technology (2.5 pages on Lib) KENNY
  7. LIB:Evidence of improvement in accessibility of electronic resources KENNY, TOM, GARY
  8. LIB: Group study room for students working on group projects (converted fac training rm)KEN, TOM
  9. TECH: Challenges: lack of broadband in certain service areas, wireless, etc. GARY, KENNY
  10. Fin.Resources: audit findings,budget reductions, continue to monitor budget allocations and staffing to maximize effectiveness;(Deficit in residence hall-needed to plan $$ better) DARYL, PSET
  1. Equipment needs assessed JOHN
  2. Foundation: Must have formal written agreements of their relationship to college JANE/RITVA
  3. Facilities Master Plan—how progress communicated? Inc. technical infrastructure BOB, DARYL,GARY
  4. Technology Plan and how integrated into budget priorities? DARYL, GARY, JOHN
  5. Warned that long range planning not get lost in day to day activities….ALL of us
  6. Did not find evidence of efforts and focus on staff, admin, and student training on effective use of technology related to programs, services, and operations. ANN, KENNY, GARY, STEPHEN

6 COMMENDATIONS

  • Adaptation to new standards
  • Definition of Core Themes aligned with mission
  • Dedication to student learning during difficult times.
  • Positive interaction among faculty, staff, and students in and out of class
  • BOT for implementing Policy Governance and engagement at policy level
  • Library and IT staff for improvement and work towards expanding access
  • Development and redesign of credit and non credit programs to assure currency, relevance

1 RECOMMENDATION

  • Technological infrastructure and training for distance education